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The Section 12J tax programme, which was introduced by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) in 2009, is set to end on the the 30 June 2021. “Essentially Section 12J is an incentive to get a country’s tax payers to invest in its own economy and in our case specifically the SMME economy because that is the sector that traditionally creates the most jobs and economic activity ,” says Johannes Maree, CEO of Destinata Capital. “This tax programme followed on the back of incentive programmes that were introduced in Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia which were very effective. In order to incentivise us as taxpayers, SARS has given us a 100 percent tax break on these types of investments, which is extremely powerful.” “Let’s assume that we have an individual taxpayer who falls into the top tax bracket of 45%. If they make a standard, non-tax deductible investment of R1 million in a call account or on the JSE they will still incur a R450 000.00 tax expense. An investor that invests into a tax-deductible vehicle like 12J will get a million-rand tax deduction, which would mean a saving of R450 000 worth of taxes.” Any South African taxpayer can invest in a Section 12J programme including salaried employees paying PAYE, provisional taxpayers, companies and/or trusts. Destinata Capital strives to make the 12J programme more accessible to the average South African. Typically, the Companies Act requires a minimum investment of R1 million into similar investment opportunities. However, Destinata Capital has registered as a public company which allows prospectuses to be registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) through which the R1 million minimum investment requirement is removed. Consequently, Destinata Capital accepts investments from R100 000.00. In addition, Destinata Capital offers investors the opportunity to leverage a cash portion, much like purchasing a property through a bond, to invest a larger amount of money in a Section 12J investment, and thereby also increase the tax deduction achieved. Apart from the benefits received, the tax savings obtained from SARS can be used as a down payment on the loan. Significantly, the sunset clause for these investments is the 30 June 2021 after which the tax deduction will fall away. “Practically speaking investors who have already taken part in a Section 12J investment programme will not be affected. The tax deduction still stands, and the funds still need to be managed in line with Section 12J legislation,” explained Maree. “However, investors qualify in the tax year that they make an investment and often wait until the last day of a tax year to make an investment, so they need to act a little bit sooner this tax year.” There is an opportunity for companies and trusts to make a large S12J investment even if it pushes them to a tax loss position, called and assessed loss, because they then have the opportunity to offset that tax loss against future taxable income. The benefit of the assessed loss can be worked off over a number of years. The typical company that would benefit from this strategy is one that has identified Section12J as an investment vehicle that they wanted to make use of for a few years. While retirement annuities also offer tax deductions the key difference is in the investment limits and investment period. A retirement annuity is limited to R350 000.00 per annum or 27.5% of your taxable income, whichever is less. In a Section 12J investment, an individual can contribute up to R2.5 million per annum, a trust up to R2.5 million per annum, while a company can contribute up to R5 million per annum. Another difference is that a Section 12J investment has a minimum investment period of five years while a retirement annuities can only be exited on retirement age of 55, and only one 3rd can be taken out as cash. Imprtant info: Last date for investment 30 June 2021 Last date for Smartloan application 11 June 2021 Destinata Capital has a stringent due diligence process and focuses its investments in hotel type accommodation which is a strong asset class. “There is safety in property as you always have strong assets on your balance sheet,” explains Maree. The company also focuses on security companies as security services are an essential service in South Africa. Destinata Capital also focus on asset rentals which give a higher cash yield. 1. How to take action:Visit https://www.destinataholdings.com/prospectus-1-of-2021/ 2. Complete an application form 3. Make payment as instructed on the form 4. Use the S12J certificate issued to claim your 100% tax deduction 5. Or request a consultation for more information and we’ll gladly assist For more information visit www.destinataholdings.com DESTINATA CAPITAL LIMITED is an Authorised Financial Service Provider and is a SARS-approved Venture Capital Company. The contents hereof should not be construed as investment, tax, legal, accounting and/or other advice. For advice on these matters consult your preferred adviser. VCC-0073 | FSP 48729

The Standard Bank KZN Top Business Awards recognise and celebrate some of the best businesses operating in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Hameed Noormahomed, Standard Bank Head of Business Clients, Client Coverage, KwaZulu-Natal says, “We see this year’s event as an opportunity to celebrate the businesses that have done phenomenally well under tough trading conditions and to encourage businesses to have the confidence to grow and build what they are doing fourfold to boost the South African economy.” The Standard Bank KZN Top Business Awards looks at everything that a business has done through a spotlight. In line with the King IV Report on Corporate Governance in South Africa 2016 all entrants must demonstrate how their respective companies have embraced the core values of business excellence, sustainability and responsibility. The entrants then motivate their reasons for being selected as a winner in the categories selected. This year’s categories are a departure from the general economic categories used in previous years and reflect the times that we are growing through. Imraan Noorbhai Standard Bank Head Consumer Client Coverage KwaZulu-Natal says, “For us the excitement this year is about the change in the categorisation of the awards. The new categories, including among others, business innovation, entrepreneur resilience, digital implementation and social responsibility bode very well for how businesses should work. It is also truly exciting to see businesses evolve and how covid has been the catalyst that has propelled many businesses to new heights.” “The judges have had an enormous task assessing the entries and have experienced much insight into the business heart of KwaZulu-Natal in the stories of success that have been shared in the entry submissions,” said Grant Adlam CEO, KZN Top Business. Categories and Finalists 1. Business Innovation Imperial Armour Icebolethu Group Capitol Caterers Mi7 National Group 2. Entrepreneur Resilience Dr Fareed Amod (Crown Dental Studio) Njabulo Maphumulo (Borderless Investment Group Sihle Ndlela and Simphiwe Majozi (Majozi Bros) 3. Digital/System Implementation Blue Security Plennegy Group Toyota South Africa Motors Future Farmers 4. Employee Wellbeing Imperial Armour Capitol Caterers Toyota MCS Debt Recovery 5. Small Business Start-up 1787 Wine Cellar Tag Your Delivery Borderless Investment Group 6. Community and Social Responsibility Toyota South Africa Motors Ithala SOC Limited Boxer SLG Tronox 7. Family Business Hirsch's Ramsi Group Beekman Group 8. Business Personality award The Standard Bank KZN Top Business Personality award is an honorary award given to a businessperson who has demonstrated exemplary business achievement, industry influence and is a true inspiration to others. The finalists are: Ashok Sewnarain Nomfundo Mcoyi Ebrahim Patel 9. Top Brand Being selected as the Top Brand in KwaZulu-Natal is much coveted and awarded based only on the results of a public poll. For ease of access this year’s competition has been managed through a SMS voting system. To vote for your top brand SMS the letters KZN to 33808 and follow the prompts (Ts and Cs apply). The voting closes on the 6 June at 10 pm. The Standard Bank KZN Top Business Awards ceremony on the 10 June will be a hybrid event with the live component hosted at the ONOMO Hotel Durban’s Topaz Restaurant Skybar. The winners in the categories will be chauffeur driven in luxury vehicles to and from the venue by Woodford Car Hire to receive their awards. In line with current covid protocols only a small number of guests are able to be at the event. “However, this will allow us to celebrate the winners’ success with them in person and allow for greater authenticity and excitement.” said Noorbhai. “The online element will ensure that the event is one hundred percent available to the people sitting at home.” To register for the Standard Bank KZN Top Business Awards online component visit www.kzntopbusiness.com Issued by Gayle Adlam Tel 0312671977/ 0836530465 Email gayle@mweb.co.za Click here to register

The Standard Bank KZN Top Business Awards recognise and celebrate some of the best businesses operating in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Hameed Noormahomed, Standard Bank Head of Business Clients, Client Coverage, KwaZulu-Natal says, “We see this year’s event as an opportunity to celebrate the businesses that have done phenomenally well under tough trading conditions and to encourage businesses to have the confidence to grow and build what they are doing fourfold to boost the South African economy.” The Standard Bank KZN Top Business Awards looks at everything that a business has done through a spotlight. In line with the King IV Report on Corporate Governance in South Africa 2016 all entrants must demonstrate how their respective companies have embraced the core values of business excellence, sustainability and responsibility. The entrants then motivate their reasons for being selected as a winner in the categories selected. This year’s categories are a departure from the general economic categories used in previous years and reflect the times that we are growing through. Imraan Noorbhai Standard Bank Head Consumer Client Coverage KwaZulu-Natal says, “For us the excitement this year is about the change in the categorisation of the awards. The new categories, including among others, business innovation, entrepreneur resilience, digital implementation and social responsibility bode very well for how businesses should work. It is also truly exciting to see businesses evolve and how covid has been the catalyst that has propelled many businesses to new heights.” “The judges have had an enormous task assessing the entries and have experienced much insight into the business heart of KwaZulu-Natal in the stories of success that have been shared in the entry submissions,” said Grant Adlam CEO, KZN Top Business. Categories and Finalists 1. Business Innovation Imperial Armour Icebolethu Group Capitol Caterers Mi7 National Group 2. Entrepreneur Resilience Dr Fareed Amod (Crown Dental Studio) Njabulo Maphumulo (Borderless Investment Group Sihle Ndlela and Simphiwe Majozi (Majozi Bros) 3. Digital/System Implementation Blue Security Plennegy Group Toyota South Africa Motors Future Farmers 4. Employee Wellbeing Imperial Armour Capitol Caterers Toyota MCS Debt Recovery 5. Small Business Start-up 1787 Wine Cellar Tag Your Delivery Borderless Investment Group 6. Community and Social Responsibility Toyota South Africa Motors Ithala SOC Limited Boxer SLG Tronox 7. Family Business Hirsch's Ramsi Group Beekman Group 8. Business Personality award The Standard Bank KZN Top Business Personality award is an honorary award given to a businessperson who has demonstrated exemplary business achievement, industry influence and is a true inspiration to others. The finalists are: Ashok Sewnarain Nomfundo Mcoyi Ebrahim Patel 9. Top Brand Being selected as the Top Brand in KwaZulu-Natal is much coveted and awarded based only on the results of a public poll. For ease of access this year’s competition has been managed through a SMS voting system. To vote for your top brand SMS the letters KZN to 33808 and follow the prompts (Ts and Cs apply). The voting closes on the 6 June at 10 pm. The Standard Bank KZN Top Business Awards ceremony on the 10 June will be a hybrid event with the live component hosted at the ONOMO Hotel Durban’s Topaz Restaurant Skybar. The winners in the categories will be chauffeur driven in luxury vehicles to and from the venue by Woodford Car Hire to receive their awards. In line with current covid protocols only a small number of guests are able to be at the event. “However, this will allow us to celebrate the winners’ success with them in person and allow for greater authenticity and excitement.” said Noorbhai. “The online element will ensure that the event is one hundred percent available to the people sitting at home.” To register for the Standard Bank KZN Top Business Awards online component visit www.kzntopbusiness.com Issued by Gayle Adlam Tel 0312671977/ 0836530465 Email gayle@mweb.co.za Click here to register

It is with deep sadness and broken hearts that we inform you of the passing away yesterday afternoon, of Arnold Vermaak, ex MD and Chairman of Constantia Afripack. To many of us, Arnold was the pioneer in changing Constantia Afripack forever. He was our boss, our mentor and most of all our friend. Arnold always stood for the underdog and passionately fought for transformation in our business. One of Arnold’s legacies was driving the Constantia Afripack HERO programme - a programme that led to every employee, in every department, and in every site being engaged on how we could build a culture of always delivering on our customer and leadership promise. Arnold retired in February 2020, after spending 28 years at Constantia Afripack. He always wanted to spend his retirement in his beloved Cape region and his dream became a reality when he and Julia moved to Franschhoek last year. As an organisation we are still trying to come to grips with this unexpected loss and we will look into formally honouring Arnold’s memory in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please keep Arnold’s family - Julia, Ryan, Tyler and Cherrise - in your thoughts and prayers. Arnold is lost to us but never forgotten and will always be known as the face and heart of Constantia Afripack. If you require any additional information at this point, please contact Brandon Naidoo at brandon.naidoo@afripack.cflex.com or myself at nicholas.john@afripack.cflex.com . Nicholas John VP Africa & Managing Director Constantia Afripack

GET READY TO SPRINT! A Sprint Triathlon is undoutably the most fun and enjoyable triathlon race you can do. The distances are achievable, the comaraderie between competitors on the race course is amazing and you are not completely exhausted afterwards. The Durban Ultra Sprint Triathlon on the 1st of August is no different and the good news is that there are still 53 days until race day, meaning there is plenty of time to train. So get some friends together, sign up below and give this race a blast on the 1st of August. With full road closure, the Durban Ultra Triathlon embraces the warm indian ocean for the swim, then takes competitors on a journey along the northern coast of Durban ending back at Suncoast for the final run leg along the flat Golden Mile. Distances: SPRINT: 600m Swim / 20km Cycle / 5km Run ...or try the ULTRA: 1.9km Swim / 90km Cycle / 21km Run Choose your distances and take up the triathlon challenge as an individual or in a relay team. Happy Training and see you in Durban in August for this epic event. SIGN UP HERE Stay safe, keep training! THE B-ACTIVE TEAM

The iLembe Chamber’s 11th annual The Entrepreneur Programme and Competition was launched on Tuesday, the 18th of May 2021. Following its 10th celebratory anniversary in 2020, the flagship entrepreneurial development programme will revert to its normal competition format in 2021. The competition has allowed the iLembe Chamber, with the support of its academic and professional partners, to establish itself at the forefront of entrepreneurial development and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME) support in the iLembe District. The programme is widely endorsed and recognised. Over the past 10 years, 228 finalists have participated in The Entrepreneur programme – with participants reporting 50% growth in revenue following their participation in the programme. In addition to enhancing the viability of the finalists’ businesses, these businesses have created 261 new jobs in the local economy at an investment of just over R2520 per job created. Previous winners and finalists have excelled following their participation in The Entrepreneur Competition. Welile Gumede from Azowel Projects, based in Maphumulo, was placed first in UKZN’s Champions Programme, whilst Joyce Ncacana from Just Meats in Mandeni was selected to participate in the programme. Welile and Patricia Schroder (Reclite SA) were finalists in the Fair Lady/Santam Woman of the Future event, with Patricia being awarded the accolade in 2018. Just Meats Butchery have flourished following Joyce’s participation in the programme. Just Meats has not only increased its footprint, with customers in the Ballito area and beyond, but also diversified its offering. The iLembe Chamber’s The Entrepreneur is a business accelerator programme that aims to find entrepreneurial gems in the iLembe District, and develop and support them to sustainable levels of growth. Competition entries will be invited over a period of six weeks with the first tuition session taking place on 31 July 2021. The 2021 competition aims to attract the best SMME talent in our district. Twenty SMMEs will be selected to participate in the competition. The 2021 programme will run over a period of nine weeks during which competition finalists will be exposed to intensive business modelling, both through tuition and practical application, as part of a programme co-designed by the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and USA-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Finalists will also be supported through mentorship by iLembe Chamber accredited mentors from a wide range of sectors and professions. Apart from the business development funding and marketing collateral received by entrepreneurs, the competition provides an opportunity for the finalists to gain critical business skills, receive mentorship and training, and prepare a comprehensive business plan that will allow them to grow and develop their businesses. The iLembe Chamber is proud to partner with Enterprise iLembe, Airports Company South Africa (KSIA), the North Coast Courier, Siza Water and ENGIE Peakers Operations in presenting this programme. To enter the competition, candidates need to complete an application form that can be downloaded from The Entrepreneur website ( www.theentrepreneur.net.za ). Entry forms are also available from the iLembe Chamber offices, and various competition entry boxes will be placed throughout the district. For more information you can contact Sakhile Khumalo T: +27 (0)87 354 6343 E: sakhile@ilembechamber.co.za W: www.ilembechamber.co.za #KZNbusinesssense

The Zululand Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ZCCI) celebrates 95 years as the voice of business in the Zululand region in 2021. Chamber President Thami Sithole said, “This milestone is dedicated to our members, who have over the years supported the ZCCI and carried the organisation through the many storms. A special thank you to the industries and business community for their continued selfless giving towards all our initiatives programmes and platforms. The Zululand Chamber of Commerce & Industry continues even during these trying times, to ensure the voice of business is heard, particularly small businesses.” The ZCCI will continue to working together with industries to find impactfuI solutions to develop its communities through capacitating small businesses in order to further create employment. The Covid-19 pandemic has negatively affected the economy and this will be felt for a few more years to come, but this, said Sithole, calls for all social partners to collaboratively work together in finding and creating opportunities that will instantly resuscitate the local economy in the King Cetshwayo District. “As we celebrate ninety-five years of the ZCCI, we honour those, that came before us. The presidents, leadership and staff that left a lasting legacy. We are making strides in reshaping the ZCCI to become an organisation ‘fit for future purpose’.” “As times change so should organisations to ensure that they are aligned with the needs of the future. Together with our industry partners, government and the business community we understand the important role that the Chamber plays in organising the· business community and creating significant platforms of engagement,” concluded Sithole. www.zcci.org.za #KZNbusinesssense

The iLembe Chamber’s 11th annual The Entrepreneur Programme and Competition was launched on Tuesday, the 18th of May 2021. Following its 10th celebratory anniversary in 2020, the flagship entrepreneurial development programme will revert to its normal competition format in 2021. The competition has allowed the iLembe Chamber, with the support of its academic and professional partners, to establish itself at the forefront of entrepreneurial development and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME) support in the iLembe District. The programme is widely endorsed and recognised. Over the past 10 years, 228 finalists have participated in The Entrepreneur programme – with participants reporting 50% growth in revenue following their participation in the programme. In addition to enhancing the viability of the finalists’ businesses, these businesses have created 261 new jobs in the local economy at an investment of just over R2520 per job created. Previous winners and finalists have excelled following their participation in The Entrepreneur Competition. Welile Gumede from Azowel Projects, based in Maphumulo, was placed first in UKZN’s Champions Programme, whilst Joyce Ncacana from Just Meats in Mandeni was selected to participate in the programme. Welile and Patricia Schroder (Reclite SA) were finalists in the Fair Lady/Santam Woman of the Future event, with Patricia being awarded the accolade in 2018. Just Meats Butchery have flourished following Joyce’s participation in the programme. Just Meats has not only increased its footprint, with customers in the Ballito area and beyond, but also diversified its offering. The iLembe Chamber’s The Entrepreneur is a business accelerator programme that aims to find entrepreneurial gems in the iLembe District, and develop and support them to sustainable levels of growth. Competition entries will be invited over a period of six weeks with the first tuition session taking place on 31 July 2021. The 2021 competition aims to attract the best SMME talent in our district. Twenty SMMEs will be selected to participate in the competition. The 2021 programme will run over a period of nine weeks during which competition finalists will be exposed to intensive business modelling, both through tuition and practical application, as part of a programme co-designed by the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and USA-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Finalists will also be supported through mentorship by iLembe Chamber accredited mentors from a wide range of sectors and professions. Apart from the business development funding and marketing collateral received by entrepreneurs, the competition provides an opportunity for the finalists to gain critical business skills, receive mentorship and training, and prepare a comprehensive business plan that will allow them to grow and develop their businesses. The iLembe Chamber is proud to partner with Enterprise iLembe, Airports Company South Africa (KSIA), the North Coast Courier, Siza Water and ENGIE Peakers Operations in presenting this programme. To enter the competition, candidates need to complete an application form that can be downloaded from The Entrepreneur website ( www.theentrepreneur.net.za ). Entry forms are also available from the iLembe Chamber offices, and various competition entry boxes will be placed throughout the district. For more information you can contact Sakhile Khumalo T: +27 (0)87 354 6343 E: sakhile@ilembechamber.co.za W: www.ilembechamber.co.za

The Zululand Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ZCCI) celebrates 95 years as the voice of business in the Zululand region in 2021. Chamber President Thami Sithole said, “This milestone is dedicated to our members, who have over the years supported the ZCCI and carried the organisation through the many storms. A special thank you to the industries and business community for their continued selfless giving towards all our initiatives programmes and platforms. The Zululand Chamber of Commerce & Industry continues even during these trying times, to ensure the voice of business is heard, particularly small businesses.” The ZCCI will continue to working together with industries to find impactfuI solutions to develop its communities through capacitating small businesses in order to further create employment. The Covid-19 pandemic has negatively affected the economy and this will be felt for a few more years to come, but this, said Sithole, calls for all social partners to collaboratively work together in finding and creating opportunities that will instantly resuscitate the local economy in the King Cetshwayo District. “As we celebrate ninety-five years of the ZCCI, we honour those, that came before us. The presidents, leadership and staff that left a lasting legacy. We are making strides in reshaping the ZCCI to become an organisation ‘fit for future purpose’.” “As times change so should organisations to ensure that they are aligned with the needs of the future. Together with our industry partners, government and the business community we understand the important role that the Chamber plays in organising the· business community and creating significant platforms of engagement,” concluded Sithole. www.zcci.org.za

If we are what we eat, that’s even more true for the health of our teeth and gums. Healthy eating patterns and food choices can help prevent tooth decay. “We advise our patients that their dental health impacts their overall well-being, and that diet can affect dental health,” says Dr Fareed Amod of Crown Dental Studio. Plaque is the thin, invisible film of sticky bacteria and other materials covering the surfaces of your teeth. When the sugars or starches in your mouth come in contact with plaque, acids form. These acids can break down the hard enamel on the surface of teeth which results in tooth decay. The bacteria in plaque can cause an inflammatory response, resulting in the breakdown of the gums, bone, and other supporting structures of your teeth. Choose healthy food In order to counter the build up of plaque, eating firm, coarse, watery, and fibrous fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots and celery are especially beneficial. Chewing helps to clean teeth by removing leftover food particles, washing away sugars, and rubbing off plaque. Eating food items which stimulate the production of saliva also helps you keep your teeth clean and neutralise the acids in the mouth. Chewy food, such as nuts, and leafy greens (e.g., kale, lettuce and spinach) which are high in calcium, folic acid and vitamin Bs aid in saliva production and help strengthen your teeth. The calcium and phosphates in dairy products help replace minerals your teeth might have lost and help rebuild tooth enamel. In addition, calcium in all food types is good for bones, including your jaw, which is an essential part of your dental health. Protein is also important for strong teeth and is found in lean meat, fish, eggs, and dairy, as well as in vegetables such as beans and lentils. When you drink and eat starchy or sugary foods you are also feeding the bacteria that can cause tooth decay and gum disease in your mouth. Even sugar-free biscuits and potato chips contain refined carbohydrates, which break down into sugars that can get stuck between your teeth, creating a source for bacteria. Hard sweets not only leave sugar in your mouth if you suck them and which is easily trapped between the fine grooves in teeth, but also pose a risk of chipping a tooth if you take a bite. If you eat sweets, rather choose those that can be eaten quickly. Some studies have shown chocolate is better than other sugary treats. As your mouth makes more saliva during meals, eating sugary foods with meals is preferable. This helps to reduce the effect of acid production and to rinse pieces of food from the mouth. Limiting in-between meal snacks is an important part of dental health. Chewing sugarless gum after snacks or meals will also increase saliva flow and wash out food and acid. Drink water Water remains one of the healthiest drinks for your teeth, particularly if it contains fluoride. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel which can help prevent tooth decay. If you choose bottled water, check the label for the fluoride content. Green and black teas contain polyphenols that either kill or limit the production of bacteria. However, coffee and tea can stain teeth enamel, and if you drink them with added sugar, you are increasing the damage to your teeth. Fizzy drinks such as coke and sprite, contain a lot of sugar as well as phosphoric and citric acids that wear away tooth enamel. Many fruit juices and energy drinks are also high in sugar and acid. Alcohol such as wine and beer are high in sugar, are often acidic, and can lead to a dry mouth, which means a less clean mouth and potential tooth decay over time. Drink plenty of water if you are drinking alcohol and limit your consumption. Many medicines can also cause a dry mouth. Consult with your dentist about using a fluoride rinse, or a fluoride gel for brushing your teeth if required. “A regular dental appointment for an oral evaluation is essential. This allows any potential problems to be identified as early as possible. Dentists ensure that your mouth, teeth and gums are healthy, and will check for abnormalities, which also could be a sign of larger health issues,” concluded Dr Amod. Crown Dental Studio is one of the few truly 24-hour dental practises in Durban as this is not limited to emergency dentistry treatment. T: +27(0) 81 207 8621 E: info@dramod.co.za W: www.dramod.co.za #KZNbusinesssense

According to Rajan Naidoo, managing director of EduPower Skills Academy, the topic of disability is still fraught with stigma and shame, particularly in the workplace. He believes that companies have to change this mindset, and this starts with creating a culture that embraces diversity and promotes disability inclusion. “Disability inclusion is about far more than hiring people with disabilities. An inclusive workplace values all employees for their strengths and abilities. It offers employees with disabilities an equal opportunity to succeed, to learn, to be compensated fairly and to advance. True inclusion is about embracing difference,” Rajan explains. But how do companies achieve this? As more than 80% of its learners are People with Disabilities (PWD), EduPower is a leader and enabler of skills development for PWDs. Based on actual experiences, Rajan shares five actions that companies can apply to create a truly inclusive workforce: Commitment from the top PWDs and their inclusion in the workplace are now part of the business agenda. Disability inclusion however needs top-level backing to become a company norm. Prove you’re committed to disability inclusion by making it a company policy. This can be a specific policy or the inclusion of disability as part of more general policies on anti-discrimination, diversity or human rights. Skills Development By recruiting PWDs, you will not gain real skills, you will be able to support national policy and legislation such as employment equity and B-BBEE targets. In the skills development space, you can use learnerships to train PWDs in the skills required by the business, preparing them for the world of work while also using the 12-month learnership as a screening process. You can claim back the majority of the spend through the higher tax rebates for PWD learnerships and provided you are paying your skills development levy; you can claim the mandatory grant too. In many cases, the rebates available mean that you can upskill your future PWDs at zero cost. Think flexibly about individual needs You will need to prepare the work environment by making reasonable adjustments to accommodate your PWDs needs. These could include modifying floorplans and equipment or the content of the job itself. You may also need to adjust working hours, work organisation and the work environment. Remove recruitment barriers Analyse every step of your recruitment process to make sure there are no barriers for PWDs. Adverts for jobs and learnerships should make it clear that you’ll provide reasonable accommodation for interviews and the job itself if needed. When it comes to the interview process, remember that your PWD candidates bring creativity, innovation, problem solving and commitment. Make your people ‘champions of change’ The most effective way to promote inclusivity in your company is to empower and encourage all your people to champion the change. The more awareness and teamwork there is in supporting policy, the better the morale, wellbeing and productivity of all your employees. Your people may be apprehensive about someone in a wheelchair or who’s partially sighted in the office simply because of the stigma this carries in society. But guaranteed, when they start working worked together, the disability won’t be an issue. It’s about simply accepting each other as people who have a job to do. It’s about ability, not disability. Including PWDs and accommodating their disability related needs are important moves for companies in terms of talent resourcing and compliance with legislation. Inclusion however is everyone’s responsibility and with your team’s commitment to eliminating the misconceptions and biases that hold PWDs back, everything is possible. W: www.edupower.co.za #KZNbusinesssense

Our world is changing and even more so in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. More and more people are having to or choosing to work from home. Some of us are downscaling to live with their children, or adult children are moving back home with Mom and Dad. Building a Garden Office or Cottage is the solution to the increasing demand for extra living/working space. Elangeni Buildings provides a fast and cost-effective building method to meet this growing demand. The company provides full turn-key project solutions with over 40 years of industry experience specialising in constructing granny flats, offices, garages, cottages, homes, classrooms and RDP units. Elangeni meaning ‘where the sun rises’ is leading the way and is at the forefront of Alternative building technologies in South Africa. The family-owned company was established by Rob Gibb in 1979 and is located in New Germany, KwaZulu-Natal. Ten years ago, Rob was joined by his two sons, Justin and Neil, who have entrenched themselves into the core of the business and have contributed greatly to its growth and success. Currently, Elangeni Buildings is one of the leading family-owned building companies in KwaZulu-Natal. Elangeni Buildings is renowned for its innovative building method and almost unbelievable building speeds comprising of reinforced concrete walling with conventional roofing, windows, doors, and finishes. “Our construction projects are completed 80 percent faster and are therefore 40 percent more cost effective than traditional brick or block building methods. In just six to eight weeks, you could have a complete spacious new home office extension, garden office or new cottage making Elangeni Buildings a very attractive option for anyone requiring great value for money in a short space of time,” says Justin Gibb. Because Elangeni Buildings completes projects faster than conventional methods, it is the reduced construction time that saves you money. Also with the reduced overall time on site it promotes cleaner building sites and reduces the impact caused by building works to your property. Rob Gibb says that it is crucial to understand all the aspects involved when considering any build project. “Apart from the construction of the building itself, any construction project will require the involvement of professional services such as architects and engineers with specific municipality engagement. We offer full turn-key projects with our inhouse architect and engineer and include all aspects of the build. This assists the client in providing them a hassle free building experience, making for a smooth, seamless and efficient building project every time.” Elangeni Buildings offers you a selection of standard plans or you may have your own custom design, size, or layout to suit your exact needs. The turnkey project scope includes plan drawing and council submission, ground preparation, foundations, and floor slab, Elangeni steel reinforced concrete walling, complete roof including SABS timber roof trusses, barge board, facia, gutters, windows, doors, plastering, ceilings, painting, plumbing and electrical including connections. “Elangeni Buildings have the same look and feel as any conventional building and are just as strong, durable and long lasting. We can match the look and style to suit your exact needs including plaster bands, Tudor style, hipped or French gable roofs. The building is finished off with painting inside and out to your desired colour,” says Neil Gibb. Apart from building homes, cottages, in residential estates and in retirement villages, Elangeni Buildings has been involved and successfully completed many school projects. This includes building classrooms, admin blocks, storage and ablution blocks for schools around KZN with over 150 successfully completed projects. The company has also partnered with several non-profit organisations that focus on infrastructure development, specifically for Early Childhood Development (ECD) in KwaZulu-Natal. In addition, annually, for more than ten years, projects have been completed with the Key Foundation, Robin Hood Foundation, Imama Wild Ride and Foundation Corruseal (Krupa Foundation). Elangeni Buildings is registered with the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) and our quality and workmanship is guaranteed through full compliance with the National Building Regulations, including full municipal approval across all South African municipalities. The building system is fully approved by the SABS of the Construction Sector also known as Agrément. The buildings are also compliant with the latest energy efficient regulations that deal with insulation qualities and energy performance of buildings therefore eliminating the need for you to spend on additional insulation products to make the building compliant and liveable. “Elangeni takes immense pride in all our building projects and customer satisfaction is of the utmost importance to us,” concludes Neil. ‘Let Elangeni give light to new ideas and help you expand your space.’ Contact Neil T: +27 (0)31 705 8330 | +27 (0)82 613 3775 E: sales@elangenibuildings.co.za W: www.elangenibuildings.co.za #KZNbusinesssense #kzntopbusiness