Current Edition >> Archive Section >> Special Features >> July 2008
In its quest to promote the SMME sector in the Free State, Seda, through its provincial office in Bloemfontein, its five district branch offices and one satellite office, is constantly engaged in various goal-orientated initiatives.
Three such initiatives the past three months were the introduction of the Trade Point programme in the Free State, the completion of the Business Management Course for SMMEs and the Business Plan Competition held for youth entrepreneurs.
Below is more detail about these initiatives.
Introducing global Trade Point concept for Free State
The Trade Point concept was launched by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in 1992 and in 1998 the SA Dept. of Trade and Industry became a party to it. Seda has the responsibility of implementing and managing the programme in South Africa, while the World Trade Point Federation (WTPF) manages the concept globally.
The WTPF operates through a network of more than 1 000 Trade Point centres, assisting small enterprises in more than 70 countries to trade internationally by using electronic commerce technologies. The strategic objective is to increase the participation of small enterprises in international trade and to assist Trade Points in becoming “one-stop-shops” where small enterprises may obtain a full set of services with regard to trade information. Products are identified by the Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System (HS codes).
In implementing the concept in SA, Seda does it as part of the Export Development Programme. More specifically a Trade Point constitutes a trade facilitation centre where participants in foreign trade are grouped under a physical / virtual banner to provide services for trade transactions. It also serves as a source of trade-related information supplying to actual and potential traders data about market opportunities, potential clients and suppliers as well as trade regulations and requirements. In so doing, a Trade Point functions as a gateway to global networking.
Trade Point offices are already established in Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth, while others in other provinces are currently in a process of being established. For more info, see www.tradepoint.org.
As for the Free State, a planning meeting for stakeholders and roleplayers has already been held on 8 May 2008 at Shawu Lodge in Bloemfontein. Arrangements are currently on schedule for launching a Free State Trade Point in February 2009.
Certificates handed for SMME Business Management course
An SMME Business Management Course presented over a six month period by a variety of professional tutors at the premises of the MUCCP in Mangaung was brought to fruition on 20 March 2008 when Seda facilitated the handing over of their certificates. The course was attended by a group of 48 existing as well as start-up SMME entrepreneurs.
The Free State Business Bulletin spoke to some of these entrepreneurs who completed the course. Thabo Moloi of Thakane Paper Sales in Blomanda, Mangaung, says the course was extremely valuable for him as owner of his own business and he now sticks daily to the lessons and guidance picked up from the course. This applies especially to financial administration, heeding of SWOT analysis and active marketing.
Deon Seitheisho of Oles Manufacturing & Services, a clothing design, manufacturing and training enterprise in Rocklands, says the course taught him the value of good customer relationships and since he is practising this, his business “is going great guns”. Lesia Mphirime, who is moving from his own security business to opening up a photocopy shop, says for him the big value of the course was that those who presented it, did it from a personal practical experience point of view. The worth of empowering yourself was also underscored to him.
Successful Business Plan Competition for youth held
Under the auspices of the Seda Mangaung Branch 31 youth were trained during April 2008 for two weeks on entrepreneurship and the development of a business plan, followed by two weeks of research and compiling their own comprehensive business plan.
The three participants who eventually came up with the best business plan were awarded. At the graduation ceremony held on 23 May 2008, the following was acknowledged:
First prize – R25 000: Mr. Kgotso Mohlapeng, poultry business in Lejweleputswa
Second prize – R15 000: Mr. Moeketsi Letsela, horticulturist from Lejweleputswa
Third prize – R10 000: Ms. Pontsho Kopung, hair and beauty salon in Motheo
The money won was invested into their own businesses, while the winners also got three months mentorship from Kagiso Business Consultants.
The competition was sponsored by Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and Debis Fleet Management.
In the execution of its mandate to serve as a bulk water services supplier mainly to municipalities in the Central and Southern Free State, Bloem Water wishes to give the assurance that the quality of water and related services being provided by it, is non-negotiable. This is the gist of a statement by the CEO of Bloem Water, Ms. Nolene Morris.
According to the statement the recent crisis regarding drinking water in the Eastern Cape and some other regions in the country, has underlined the importance of good water quality not only in South Africa, but also in the world. Therefore Bloem Water would like to emphasize its commitment to quality drinking water being supplied to the municipalities and other clients purchasing water from it.
Water supply is regulated in terms of drinking water quality by the South African National Standard (SANS) 241, specifying requirements like frequency of testing and types of testing needed to be complied with. In meeting these requirements, Bloem Water has instituted its own policies and procedures over and above the standard to ensure that best quality water is supplied to its clients. This includes testing by an external accredited laboratory, namely at the University of the Free State's Institute for Ground Water Studies (IGS).
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) is responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance, while legislation requires from all water services authorities (WSA) and providers (WSP), like Bloem Water, to make its monitoring results available to the public. This is duly being done by Bloem Water via the DWAF website as well as its own website at www.bloemwater.co.za.
The treatment process followed by Bloem Water at its plants, is made up of various phases, which take up to eight hours, with the water tested every two hours at different stages of the process. In so doing, the quality of raw water and the quantities of chemicals used to treat the water are being monitored. This ensures that proactive action is taken if problems arise. The results of the testing is recorded and used to analyze patterns in the quality of the water and the effectiveness of the treatment process.
In addition, water samples are taken once weekly and delivered to the IGS laboratory at the University of the Free State for bacteriological testing and analyses. The testing includes monitoring of any possible E.coli and Faecal coliforms in the water.
In some other parts of the country, pollution to raw water sources is caused by amongst others the discharges of industrial waste into rivers and dams. This affects the quality of drinking water and has cost implications for the end consumer. Burst pipes may also contribute to the water quality as foreign substances enter the system. However, on its part, Bloem Water has the necessary procedure in place to clean pipes after repairs of leakages have been effected.
Leaking sewage systems are also polluting water distribution networks, dams and rivers in some other regions. Illegal connections in addition may also cause water quality failures as they are incorrectly connected and not effectively controlled. Again, Bloem Water has the procedures and systems in place to proactively address any such problems.
Bloem Water as a bulk water services supplier treating water and selling it in bulk to the municipalities in its area of supply, is in the process of setting up water quality monitoring forums with its municipal clients. These forums are duly capacitated and geared to monitor and address water quality issues. It is the intention in future to extend this initiative to local communities in order to ensure that all play a role in compliance to stipulated water quality standards.
In conclusion, Bloem Water would like to comment on the aesthetic quality of drinking water in its area of supply as has been affected in terms of taste and odour. The final purified water reflects an earthly or musty smell that may easily be distinguished when heating it or just drinking it.
However, the public can be categorically assured that the causes of this taste and odour are simply natural dissolved organics in the raw water supply source - in this case the dam – and that the organics do not pose any health risk whatsoever. This condition is seasonal and should be resolved very soon. The water is safe for human consumption and is free from bacteria.
The water monitoring programme at the IGS of the University of the Free State emphatically confirms that the water as supplied by Bloem Water conforms to SANS241 standards.
With some fresh attitudes towards employment targets for specifically women in mining and the disabled – two categories hitherto largely neglected by society in general – the Voorspoed Diamond Mine 30 km outside Kroonstad is breaking exciting new ground.
Construction at the mine, with a total project value of some R1,3 billion, was largely completed in May 2008, a month earlier than scheduled. Currently the commissioning process is underway and it is expected that full production will be reached by the end of this year – six months ahead of schedule. It is anticipated that coloured diamonds will be recovered, as had occurred when mining first took place at Voorspoed in the early 1900's.
In this feature the spotlight is on the innovative and pioneering steps Voorspoed Diamond Mine has taken to apply women in operational mining capacities.
Josephine Kasumba, Manager Public and Corporate Affairs of Voorspoed Mine, says when one thinks about the activities at a diamond mine, it is unlikely that you would picture women hard at work. However, at Voorspoed Mine women are forging careers in mining and also as individuals and leaders in their own right.
Kasumba had a chat with these women and below is recorded what they had to say.
Felicity Sekete explained that she was unemployed, but had work experience at Ngwathe Municipality. Today at Voorspoed she is an operator for the water tank and Caterpillar 777F haul truck, dumping kimberlite ore into the crusher. It may be a male dominated environment, said Felicity, “but I dreamed of working in the mine because of growth opportunities.” As a woman, she said, it is necessary to work extra hard and there are additional challenges: “I am constantly under pressure to perform. However, I am overcoming all of these challenges.”
Felicity said she sees herself in future as a supervisor for the SHE (Safety & Health Environment) because this is her passion, realizing how important safety is at a mine. She is of the opinion that sanitation facilities and the language used at the mine by male co-workers may be improved, but says that overall Voorspoed Mine treats women as equals and this augurs well for opportunities for women at the mine.
Busisiwe Mvoba was studying information technology, but a shortage of funds terminated her efforts. Now at Voorspeod she is an operator on the rock breaker while simultaneously being trained on the Caterpillar 777F haul truck. She used to think that the mining environment was dangerous and consequently only men worked there. “Now my views have changed. [Working here] you learn a lot about jobs previously reserved for men and you feel like an equal. There is fair treatment with no gender discrimination,” Busiswe, says.
She adds that driving the big machines can be challenging, even so because the steps are high! Impressed by the nature of the work, Busiswe says she would eventually like to become a geologist. If anything could be improved, she would like to see better facilities for all operators. “To be a woman in mining now is great because there are lots of opportunities,” Busiswe notes.
Nomalanga Ndlebe joined Voorspoed in 2007 as an operator for the A8348 Tyre-dozer and Cat 777F haul truck. Nomalanga says she never thought that a mine such as Voorspoed would have a bearing on the community. As a woman in mining, she says the community respects her and is proud to regard her as such. “You have to remain calm when doing your job, or you won't succeed,” she observes.
“I'd like to learn more about other opportunities at the mine and to grow, perhaps one day becoming part of the management structure,” Nomalanga says. “Voorspoed Mine has provided me with a golden opportunity and I am dedicated to ensuring that the mine turns out a huge success.”
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