Africa Biz

Friday 24 March 2017

This is what a new R100 million SA government school looks like

By Staff Writer, March 23, 2017

The MEC for Infrastructure Development has formally handed over the Mokone Maruping Primary School to the Community of Braamfischerville – a new government school in the heart of Soweto.

The total project cost R98 million and it was constructed in 2 phases, the department said in a statement. Phase 1 was completed in December 2016 and Phase 2 will be completed by end of May 2017, with the School Hall and Sports field being completed during phase two.

The department noted that the school was currently 93% completed and officially opened on January 2017 – catering for approximately 1,200 learners from Grade R to Grade 7.

“These township schools boast high-end learning facilities and will ensure that “our learners will get quality education where they reside,” said MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi.

“Already, we are reaping the benefits of the investment being made in township schools. In the 2016 National Senior Certificate, township schools made us proud by contributing substantially to the overall pass. Remarkably out the 32 schools that achieved a 100% pass rate, 8 are from the township.”

The school boasts the following unique facilities and features:

33 smart classrooms
1 Multi-purpose hall
1 Computer Laboratory
IT Control Room
A Library
Nutrition Centre with Dining Hall
School Main Hall
Audio Visual Computer Laboratory
Clear-Vu Fencing
Covered walkways
Sports facility
Soccer and netball field
Combi courts (to accommodate Netball, Basketball and Tennis Courts)
Plant Room
A Guard Room
5 Courtyards

Grade R classroom

Grade R Washroom

Grade R Courtyard/Play Area, Sandpit and Water Fountain with Water Catchment Grid

Classroom

Science laboratory

Outdoor Classroom

Dining Hall

Courtyard

Combi Court

Thursday 23 March 2017

Les Brown International

Les Brown here,

Today, I’m sending you a short message to really make you think…

Have you ever just stopped and asked yourself: “What’s my purpose in life?”

Too many times we spend hours every day worrying, stressing and putting our attention only on the “what if this happens, what if that happens?”

We live in fear.

Many times, we don’t even know what we’re afraid of. We just live in fear.

Rather, I want you to take the same time and I want you to invest it in asking yourself what your purpose is. Who do you really want to be?

How can you live today so that you are living the life of your dreams.

No matter what, I can tell you one thing

“You are here to live your purpose. Search your mind and follow your heart. Be willing to make a radical change in order to live your dream. It takes courage to pursue a life that is calling you. Answer the call.”

I have no doubt that you have an amazing purpose. I have no doubt that you have the ability to live that purpose.

The only thing you need to be prepared for is making a radical change so that purpose can come to life.

You have something special - you have greatness within you.

With love,

Les Brown
http://track.slsv1.com/tc/F6ZhNJgwRM/4dcfa859476eaf7cd4c07ebee886f52d/43ae51ce9ee0df3ad028c361aac11222/lesbrown

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P.S. - Over 12,100 of my students have already picked up their copy of “The Circle of Profit” for Free (just cover the shipping). This offer is going to expire in a few days, make sure you do it right away…

Family Business Model: Can Become The Business of The 21st Century

March 16, 2017 by Thandisizwe Mgudlwa Leave a Comment

The concept of a Family Business is one that is seriously underrated.
But the truth is that, it is the most viable business venture that the ordinary folk on the street is likely to succeed in. Some people may nit know that Coke started out as a family business. Loot at where it is to day. It is in the most famous and best brands of all time. With high rates of unemployment facing many nations across the globe. The prospects of many people finding job security today including academic graduates; and the masses in particular, are zero to none. Even the option of investing in a career in the corporate world and in other sectors has been proven many a times, to be an opportunity that will be enjoyed by a privileged few. The world of work has enormously changed to what is was say 30 years ago. However, not all is lost. With the advent of the Internet the world has become smaller. It has become easier today to run businesses online and offline. Other people first run a business online. The they start it offline as well. And other they do the opposite and start it offline, then go online. And on top of that, the E-commerce space, the digital economy and then you have one hell of an era. The knowledge economy has revolutionized our world. Many can be made 24/7. But for some reasons. Many people have let this opportunities to change their current financial struggles continue. Their goals and dreams go to waste without giving themselves a chance a better life. Competitions for jobs which involves recruitment agencies, overseas cheap labour, automation to name but a few factors hindering many people's changes of finding decent employment. It is based on those hindering factors that the Family Business model come into play. The Family Business venture is clearly a game changer for many in Africa and elsewhere. The business is modeled on various fronts. It is mostly a business that involves people possibly love, care and who want the best for each other. That is what family should be and must be. They are family after all Of course this is not always the case. But again, the same can be said about the corporate world and other sectors. The family unit, this is what everyone should and must strive for. To rebuild the family unit for the development of out communities, city, countries, regions, continents and the world at large. Business statistics around the the world confirm that out of every 10 companies that exist, only one will succeed in a period of less that 10 years. Some companies close down within three years and others follow suit soon after that. Many reasons are given for the failures of these companies, ranging from poor branding & marketing; low quality of the products and services; poor cash flow management, no and lack of proper bookkeeping, lack of quality well trained and so on and so forth. Be that as it may, the problem of joblessness remains a biting one for many governments and countries. Violent protests, marches and civil unrest are the order of the day when government's fail to create a conducive environment for economic grow and development to occur. And jobs can not be created on scale demanded by the unemployment rates. Social grants become some government's weapon in dealing with unemployment. Bu this too, is proving to be not the solution as the masses wreck havoc in many poorly managed countries in Africa and many developing countries, due to poverty. It is on that note the the Family Business model must be used as an alternative. The model involves people who are emotionally attached to each other. Many times they biologically connected. It involves people who live with one another and share spaces, resources and experiences. The Family Business model, provides dysfunctional and even broken families an opportunity at fixing their families. It allows people to come together and help each other out to achieve their yet unreached goals and dreams. This is a model that gives family members another chance at prosperity. It is a business that gives family members a new sense of purpose and meaning in their lives. Everyday becomes an opportunity to build the Family Business and to create a stable family fabric based on sound values, principles and ideals. With different set of skills, resources and networks, family members have an opportunity to create corporations that can severely uplift the family and can also create opportunities for other people outside the family, including job creation. The model offers families the opportunity to create a Corporate Social Investment (CSI) in their communities and other areas. Part of the model involves servicing the community in various ways. It could be cleaning the streets and that's promoting environmental awareness. It could be by adopting a school and assisting that school in finding whatever it needs to be a world class learning institution. The great thing about the Family Business model is that it can easily and manageably be based on various ventures including selling different products and providing a wide variety of services. Some family members may be involved in the venture on a part-time basis, while others can be involved on full-time basis. People must be given the freedom to choose. Some members may have jobs and/or be involved in other activities that keep them away from the Family Business a lot of the time. But they may have a genuine desire for the venture to prosper. At times they may even be the most sincere, committed, and even the biggest contribution to the venture even though they are involved elsewhere. A Family Business Strategic Plan with clear set out vision, mission, goals and objectives of the venture with time-frames will arrest any complications that negatively affect the Family Business. Their involvement elsewhere needs to be seen as an asset as they could be marketing the venture and acquiring skills, knowledge and resources to plough back into the Family Business. Of out-most importance, is the nature of the Family venture. Who should do what? When? How/ Why? Or the guidelines of the venture. This is one area that needs many compromises from all family members. As people have different goals, dreams, ideas, wants and don't wants, for the Family Business venture to succeed, family members must be considerate on what other members of the family aspire for. In other words, the venture can not be based on forcing things on people. It can not be oppressive on anyone. If people want to pull out of the business they must be allowed to do so with out any ill feelings towards them. People must have an opportunity to express their views and call for help and if and when the need arises. A system of rules and regulation is highly is a must to allow order and direction. It is highly non-negotiable that all family members must understand and accept the rules and regulations of the venture, as without the rules and regulations, unnecessary crises and fights are likely to occur and threaten the survival and success of the family enterprise. The family members need to do a thorough market research on what is the best business or businesses which get match the skills, education and resources they possess. Closer to home in the example of Kaizer Chiefs, which is another successful family business. Founded in Soweto, South West of Johannesburg, on the 7th January 1970 by Kaizer Motaung and a group of fellow soccer lovers, the club is now a family business owned by the Motaungs. With a revenue of $25 mil. – $50 milllion, Kaizer Chiefs employs 100-250 people. The Club falls under the Industry of Sports Teams & Leagues, Hospitality. As a special part of the Kaizer Chiefs family, being a card carrying member of the Amakhosi Supporters Club means you get to enjoy a whole host of incredible benefits from insurance, retail among others. With Hollard Insurance, the Clubs Insurance products include the Kaizer Chiefs Funeral Plan and Kaizer Chiefs Hospital Cash Back Plan which offer the opportunity to rest assured that a family is adequately covered in time of need. In February 2005 it was announced that Motaung would join the board of Primedia Limited as a non-executive director. Primedia is South Africa’s largest private media holding company and owns 40% of Kaizer Chiefs. Through good business acumen Kaizer Chiefs bought back the 40% stake from Primedia in 2012. Matuang has also served as a director on the boards of many other companies such as Royal Beechnut, Simba, New Age Beverages and Get Ahead. Other most successful ideas on what kind of a Family Business people can do would include buying and selling, livestock farming, agribusiness farming, real estate property, vehicles or big equipment, events & party equipment, multi-level marketing. Education and training in business course and seminars is a must do for success. It must be ongoing with reading of business books and other material. With on-going communication, support for each other, mentoring and coaching the sky is the limit in the Family Business world.

Wednesday 22 March 2017

TVET college certificates backlog being cleared, says department

Major steps have been taken to clear the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) examination results and certificates backlog, the Department of Higher Education and Training said on Thursday, 9 March 2017.

The certificates backlog has compromised prospects for employment or further education for many graduates and has raised questions about the quality of SA's college sector.

The number of outstanding certificates has been reduced significantly from the 236,821 recorded in August 2015, to 29,583. The department said the issuing of outstanding certificates was being hampered by data problems at TVET colleges. These included data-capturing errors, authentication of identity numbers and other personal information, said department spokesman Madikwe Mabotha.

He said TVET college principals had been engaged in a process to validate and confirm all preliminary examination data from the examination centres.

The problems besetting the sector are likely to hamper the government's efforts to make colleges an attractive education choice as part of its plan to ease pressure on universities.

Mabotha said more than 2-million subject results for the November 2016 exams had been processed and released. The final outstanding and pending results were released to TVET colleges earlier in March.

"This means that all outstanding November 2016 results have now been released.

"In addition, a further 450 subject results that were suspended due to suspicions of acts of dishonesty have also been cleared following thorough investigations. These results will be processed and released within a week," said Mabotha.

Working together

The department would continue to work closely with college principals to ensure data capturing challenges, which had contributed to many of the delays in the past, were immediately resolved, he said.

Mabotha said principals would be required to validate all preliminary examination data prior to submission.

"The department acknowledges the key role played by both the State Information Technology Agency [Sita] and the quality assurer, Umalusi, in ensuring the speedy finalisation of the results for the November 2016 examinations," he said.

Sita, which is responsible for issuing certificates, has previously blamed the backlog on outdated IT systems not aligned to diploma and exam rules introduced in 2010.

TVET successes

Meanwhile, during a question and answer session in Parliament on Thursday, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said TVET colleges were beginning to record "great successes balancing theory and practicals".

"We are seeing a great improvement in the take-up of artisan training among young people, particularly those who go to TVET colleges," he said.

Ramaphosa said the government was finalising an agreement with the private sector that would see as many as 1-million youths being offered paid internships in companies.

Source: Business Day

Les Brown

Hey!

I just finished reading an amazing book.

I wanted to immediately tell you about it!

I'm so impressed by this book that I am giving a copy of this to my children as well. The book is called "The Circle of Profit" and it's by my dear friend - Anik Singal. The entire book is devoted to giving EVERYDAY practical steps on how to take INFORMATION and turn it into a profitable online business.

Listen, I always teach you about the MINDSET behind success.

I even motivate you to live the life of your dreams.

I believe in the power of what I teach, I've seen thousands of lives changed, however, one of the questions I get the most is: "Les, what are the actual steps I can take to really be successful?"

For many years, I simply did not have an easy answer to that - not one I felt comfortable giving to absolutely everyone. However, today that has changed.

I have arranged for you to get this book for no cost, just cover a tiny shipping and handling - that's it. Trust me, you will never get this deal again.

Anik Singal is being incredibly gracious by offering this even now.

My Top Book Recommendation For 2016 - Circle of Profit (Get Your Free Copy Now)...

What this book teaches you is how to take some simple information you already have and create an entire business around it. All you need is a computer and the steps outlined in this book: "The Circle of Profit"

That's it.

Now, I know you're an action taker. I know you won't let such an incredible opportunity pass you by. So, right now, go and take action. It doesn't matter where in the World you are. Anik will ship it to you all over the World.

Here's the best part.

You don't have to wait for the book to arrive at your doorstep. You also get IMMEDIATE access to a full online classroom that has the book and all the VIDEO TRAININGS in it for Free as well.

It simply does not get better than this.

Take action now! Get your free copy before they're all gone!

My Top Book Recommendation For 2016 - Circle of Profit (Get Your Free Copy Now)...

Take action so that you can live your life to your full potential. This book is a great tool to help you do that!

You have something special - you have greatness within you.

Regards,

Les Brown
http://track.slsv1.com/tc/UqdB3gIGnz/48b0a1e7377a4a97c5083c04c823fea5/43ae51ce9ee0df3ad028c361aac11222/lesbrown

I even made a quick video for you showing you my Top 2016 Book Recommendation Here - go now and watch it really quick...

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"You have greatness within you. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!"
- Les Brown

Industrialisation of mining industry a crucial focus area for Africa

> Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

"The African mining industry needs to explore innovative ways to improve productivity, competitiveness, and profitability to propel the continent into industrialisation."

Dr Markus Thill, president of Bosch’s Africa region, says that by making the mining industry more profitable, economic growth can be furthered.

He notes, "Eventually, this would have positive effects also on education and skills development.

History has shown that the introduction of new, modern technologies creates opportunities for high-paying jobs as demand for skilled workers increases substantially. The depletion of coal resources in Europe led to the First Industrial Revolution and the use of steam power was to mechanise production. Such profound changes usually create concerns among people."

However, as the example of the First Industrial Revolution shows, transformation processes very often bear opportunities. Here, productivity increased which led to the creation of high-paying jobs and the generation of new industrial wealth,” he says.

Global research reveals, "The introduction of modern mining techniques and technologies in many instances, retrofitting old mines with new technologies boosts productivity, reduces costs, and leads to improvements in safety when mining for resources."

Economists also add, "While Africa has improved electricity supplies. cost-effective and reliable energy remains a key challenge for mining and industrial companies.

The mining industry has also made significant strides in reducing mining-related accidents and fatalities. This is thanks to regulators and industry stakeholders that have stepped in to address the challenge.

While industry stakeholders and experts commend the implementation of regulatory measures to tackle the challenge, there is also apprehension about overregulation, which increases the cost of mining in Africa.

“Harnessing that power will require investment in transmission and distribution infrastructure to ensure that electricity gets to as many customers, in particular industrial and commercial end-users, as possible,” concludes Dr Thill.

Saturday 18 March 2017

The #1 Way To Change Your Life..

...is to take ACTION.

You know, I've traveled the WORLD. I've met and helped millions of students. I've personally spoken (one on one to easily over 100,000 incredible people) - all looking to change their lives.

It's my life's passion to dive into the minds of others and help whoever I can!

However, it pains me to always see one overwhelming factor in many of the students I coach.

LACK of ACTION.

It's easy to say what we want. It's easy to dream about what we want. It's even easier to blame others for what we don't have. And the easiest...is to sit around and wait for someone to hand it to us.

Well, starting today, we're going to change that - together. Right?

You're now an action-taker. Period.

As an action taker, I have to ask you - have you gone and downloaded my Free Mini-Book: "7 Steps To Control YourFinancial Destiny..." (http://financialdestiny.org/freebook)

Not only downloaded, but have you ready it - cover to cover, not just once, but twice.

=> Download The 7 Secrets To Taking Control of YourFinancial Destiny (http://financialdestiny.org/freebook)

Do it now. Seriously - do not wait for someone to do it for you!

Next, I want to HEAR from you if you have actually read my book (or watched the VIDEO version). I want to hear yourthoughts, your remarks. I want to hear where you will take more action now!

This is your first test as an action taker? What's it going to be? Will you rise to the challenge, let's see! Always remember one thing. You’ve got greatness within you. I know it. I’ve seen it.

Now, it’s time for us to show it to the World. "Hey, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it."

With love,

Les Brown

http://financialdestiny.org/freebook/

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