I often wonder if the government and business sector assert their seriousness about SMME development because it has become a politically correct message or is there a genuine intention to develop this sector of our economy? There is an abundance of empirical evidence that the success of an economy lies in the success of its small and medium sized businesses. A need arises to internalise the truth that SMMEs are the creators of employment, sustainability, and financial freedom for the economy. This need does not imply a simplistic approach to create funding structures for small business, which create an environment of dependency, and an attitude that starting a business requires a loan or a grant. However, I do not wish to undermine this approach, but rather contend that it forms part, and is often minor, in the bigger scheme of small business development. Creation of Markets Developing small business requires a conscious effort to identify and ring-fence markets. Small business is often based on an inherent ability to produce goods and services. There may be instances where this skill can be harnessed, but there is generally a solid foundation to build from. A young plumber or electrician already has knowledge of his trade, similarly with a builder, a painter, a lawyer, or an architect. The challenge is operating in an environment that does not trust your abilities. A society that believes that if the product comes from you, it does not have the status of imported products or products that come from big business. No amount of funding will solve that unspoken, yet prevalent attitude towards small business. Business Skills and Systems This finds expression in two fundamental areas: 1) Firstly, business studies are still reserved for those who want to pursue careers in finance departments of big business. We have not yet recognised that a medical student could wish to open a private practice. We need to challenge the education sector to structure itself such that the necessary business skills are part of any curriculum. 2) The second challenge is expecting a startup business to have skills and systems – such as marketing, IT, human resource, and finance skills – to operate effectively. We crucify them for not having their taxes up to date or for not filling in the tender documents properly. Yet what they have been trained to do, and do excellently, is to paint. We should be investing in creating affordable back-office solutions for small business. These solutions must recognise that new business owners are not meant to be experts in back-office administration. However, they should also be available at a fraction of the cost of those available to big business. Managing Cash Flows In my view, it is criminal not to pay small business on time when they have provided a service. Small business creates breadwinners for families and are a cornerstone of survival in our society. The support of this sector must start from ensuring that, at a minimum, their claims are paid as soon as the goods and services are delivered. That is the minimum contribution that big business and government can make in SMME development. Anything below this minimum borders on an intentional act of collapsing the business that one purports to support. I have engaged with several small businesses that have resorted to loan sharks for the necessary funds required to manufacture or procure goods that are required by big business or government. In the name of SMME support and procurement, big business and the state sit by the wayside with a ‘We will pay once you deliver’ attitude! In my view SMME development is a partnership between parties that is aimed at harnessing the abilities of the small business, extending the power of big business and government, and realising the goal that, small as they are, they are the backbone of any solid economy. T: +27 (0)61 422 0167 or +27 (0)83 700 8863 E: thabani@tzulu.co.za

Calculating how best to spend your monthly budget is often difficult. Bills must be paid, and food has to be provided. So, the sixmonthly dental check-up or teeth clean is often perceived to be a luxury. In addition, many people are anxious to see the dentist and will either delay or avoid a visit. However, missing your regular trips to the dentist could cost you more rands when you discover that you have a serious dental health problem. Routine dental care is an essential part of keeping your teeth healthy and fighting against plaque and cavities. “Dentists not only solve problems, but they can also prevent them,” says Dr Fareed Amod of Crown Dental Studio. “I ensure that my patients obtain the necessary advice, x-rays, and other services that are designed to protect your teeth and ensure that your mouth is healthy.” Perhaps even more importantly, regular appointments allow many potentially serious dental health problems to be detected. These range from tooth decay and gum disease, which could result in the loss of teeth if ignored, to children requiring orthodontic treatment, or to aligning crooked teeth. Early identification and management of these potential problems means that they are easier, and therefore less expensive, to treat. Symptoms of pain or bleeding gums mean that a tooth or teeth could be damaged. Suddenly, the relative cost of the missed dental check-up will seem insignificant in comparison to the costs of root canal work, false teeth, or dental implants to repair a smile. In addition, a dental screening should include an examination of the head and neck as well as the lips, cheeks, tongue, palate, floor of mouth and gum tissues. During this examination the dentist will check for any lumps on your head or neck. They will also check for any red or white patches in the mouth. Usually, these examinations will find nothing to be concerned about, but they could save your life. Dental hygienists are often disregarded when it comes to managing your oral health, but they offer valuable services. They assist in promoting preventive dental health and treating gum disease. This includes cleaning your teeth (a ‘scale and polish’) by removing plaque and tartar, both of which cause tooth decay and gum disease. Crown Dental Studio hygienist Mateenah Amod says, “Having a cleaning at least two to three times a year is recommended to help ensure that no issues are developing and to remove the build-up of plaque that happens over time even with brushing and flossing.” Dental hygienists help you to keep your teeth and gums healthy by showing you the correct home care routine required and may suggest a product that can prevent problems from developing or persisting. This is advice that you won’t hear if you skip your checkups or cleans to save money. Often when people have dental problems, they use the internet to find solutions which can be very misleading. To qualify as a dentist requires many years of training to acquire both the knowledge and expertise required. In addition, says Dr Amod, “I wish to build relationships with my clients by seeing them regularly, which will allow me to tailor advice and support specific to their needs. We offer long term care of your teeth, and we will be happy to produce a detailed treatment plan to transform your smile. If you take care of your oral hygiene, you are doing your share of the work and then I can do mine.” 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

Laurence Foure, Chief Revenue Officer, UniHaven The question, as old as time itself, is usually asked on a child’s very first day of school: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” “Astronaut. Doctor. Lawyer. Teacher. Soccer player.” Although the answers haven’t evolved much over time, very few children around the age of six have the cognitive ability to articulate their career aspirations. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF), “65% children currently in primary school will work in jobs that do not yet exist”. That number will continue to grow as advances in technology change the global economic environment and the workforce required to power it. With such a constantly evolving landscape, how do you help your children prepare for – and stay relevant in an increasingly competitive labour market to ensure a stable and secure financial future? The answer is, and probably always will be, a solid education . However, there are two significant drawbacks and realties to take into consideration in creating the new age foundation for developing and developed economies. Drawback #1: Lacking Diverse Interests Doesn’t Position Human Capital for Change In the first chapter of David Epstein’s enlightening book, Range , he compares two of the greatest sportsmen of the modern age: Tiger Woods and Roger Federer. The former was given a golf club at the age of six months, won his first golf tournament at age two, and was competing with experienced players on the course by the age of four. His father mapped out his entire future at a young age, and there was no room for deviation from the plan. The latter was allowed to dabble in everything from skiing, skateboarding and wrestling, to squash, handball and soccer; Federer has often credited his hand-eye coordination and athleticism to his eclectic collection of pursuits. His parents were supportive, but did not force him to specialise in one specific direction, trusting that his path would be revealed when the “time is right”. While both athletes have dominated their respective fields, Federer, with his broad base of experience and knowledge from outside his specialisation, is more equipped to deal with his life and career should things change. What has this got to do with providing the optimal education for your children? Due to the pressures and uncertainty of future job prospects brought on in part by the pandemic, it has become commonplace for parents to push their children into a specific direction from a very young age. The answer to “what do you want to be when you grow up” is often taken too literally from often perceivably “strict” and well meaning parents, and destinies are planned without any regard for the naturally evolving interests of growing child, or the essential broad base of knowledge and life skills human beings develop by experimenting with whatever holds their interest at a particular point in time. This often has a knock-on effect, which links the first drawback inexplicably to the following drawback. Drawback #2: Counter Productive Pressure and Burnout According to research, the human brain only reaches maturation at the age of 25. It is only at this age that the part of the brain that is responsible for decision-making is fully developed . In South Africa, children are expected to make choices around the school subjects that will impact their future career aspirations at the end of Grade nine – the age of fifteen: a full ten years before they are physiologically capable of making such weighty decisions. Many teenagers experience high amounts of pressure that they are not yet sufficiently equipped to deal with. Well-meaning parents can add additional pressure with high academic expectations, prematurely A good education starts at school, however, constant, high expectations to achieve academically can have damaging results. With South African universities only able to accommodate around 18% of matriculants , pressure is already high to stand out from the crowd. Added to the mix is the well-documented decline of the standard of education in the South African schooling system. The result of these factors sees many children take on extra subjects or explore options such as Cambridge or A-levels, in the hope that they can secure a coveted place – whether at home or abroad. Unfortunately for many, these options are not clearly understood and often do nothing but put additional pressure on teenagers already struggling with stress, anxiety, and challenges around social image. Instead of mapping their futures in an inflexible manner, children should be allowed to experiment without the fear that the choices they make could have a long-term impact on their future careers. Shifting Perspective: A New Approach to the Evolving Future of Education UniHaven was founded to provide an alternative path to high quality, international education while safeguarding children’s ability to experience their formative years as they should be: free to experience a range of endeavours and develop a broad base of knowledge and life skills. UniHaven’s specially designed programme prepares students with degree aspirations for an undergraduate qualification at a university in Europe or the USA. The foundation year consists of academic modules plus subject-specific modules (based on the chosen field of study) that help prospective students attain the correct marks and skills required to pursue a degree at one of the university partners. The courses also help those who require additional English language support to navigate the complex world of academic English. If your child finds themselves in one of the following scenarios, UniHaven’s foundation programme can be leveraged to gain entry to an undergraduate degree: 1. Incorrect Subject Choice and/or Sub-Optimal Matric Marks Based on the discussion outlined above, asking a fifteen year-old to make subject choices that will impact their entire future is premature. Even guided by their parents, teenagers select subjects based on workload, ease-of-pass, current university entry requirements, or any other host of reasons. Even well-researched subject options could prove sub-optimal once they have matriculated. In addition to this, a slew of “watered down” subjects have been added to the South African high school syllabus (e.g., maths literacy, cultural studies). For students with postgraduate aspirations, a matric certificate reflecting these subjects will not position matricluants well for an already competitive selection process for university entrance. While the traditional ‘ideal’ subject choices still doesn’t guarantee university entrance. Many students applying to study for a degree have the correct school-leaving certificate (qualification), but their grades don’t meet the minimum scores required to gain entry. A combination of these factors could have adverse effects on a student’s aspirations. For example, a student who wants to study medicine but has done their IB wouldn’t have the correct subjects; or has completed their A-levels but doesn’t have the right grade or enough science-related subjects. 2. Incomplete A-Levels There are several reasons that South African students do not – or cannot – complete their A-levels. In these cases, the UniHaven foundation offers an alternative path to a university entrance. For those who have completed 1 year of A-levels, an IGCSE plus the foundation negates the requirement for the second year of A-levels to be completed. 3. Gap Year Whether out of exhaustion and burnout, or simply the desire to explore the world around them before returning to the classroom, some learners opt for a gap year. For students who have a gap of 2-or-more years, a UniHaven foundation is an ideal option to reintroduce them to the academia, study and English skills needed to successfully tackle a degree. Traditional and Evolved Education: Bridging the Gap UniHaven’s foundation year bridges the gap for students who don’t have the right qualifications to go straight on to an undergraduate degree programme. It provides a broad introduction to subjects of their choice and helps them gain valuable academic, study and English language skills. Automatic progression to a partner university is guaranteed once the UniHaven foundation is successfully completed. In addition to academic education, studying abroad provides valuable life experience. The often-forgotten soft skills required for a successful career – the ability to work outside your comfort zone, being able to relate to a wide range of personalities and cultures, along with essential critical thinking in the workplace without losing sight of the bigger picture – are developed outside of the lecture hall. UniHaven and our partner universities bridge the gap between academics and the real world. In an increasingly complex, evolving, technology-driven global economy, UniHaven provides students and their parents the best of both worlds: experience less academic pressure in high school, without sacrificing the opportunity to attend an international university. For more information on UniHaven and the foundation year course, visit our website

iExchange, South Africa’s most innovative timeshare exchange company launched its industry awards programme in 2019 to celebrate and acknowledge the value that its partners contribute to the tourism sector. “As one of the hardest-hit during the pandemic, it is important now more than ever that the industry celebrates all achievements, big or small,” said iExchange Director Tony Forbes. “At iExchange, we are very inspired and grateful for all the effort and heart our industry partners put in, and we are privileged to be able to acknowledge and recognise that.” The various awards also aim to honour its partner resorts’ contribution to helping iExchange achieve its vision of ‘making extraordinary holidays THE standard’. The plaques, certificates and various tokens of appreciation are handed personally by the company’s Business Development team. iExchange is excited to release its awards programme winners of the 2020/2021. For more information please read on and click on the links below. RESORTS DIAMOND GRADING AWARD: Awarded to resorts based on an annual on-site assessment covering quality, maintenance and facilities. Read more . sAMBASSADOR AWARDS: Awarded to resorts or individuals who support and promote iExchange, based on a pre-set performance criteria. Read more . The Top 3 iExchange Ambassadors for 2019/2020 are Jon Kilroe - Smith from Club Mykonos, Garth Green from Mtunzini Forest Lodge, and Ian Jansen van Rensburg from Sondela Nature Reserve. The Top 3 Ambassadors for 2020/2021 are Luette Engelbreg from Bushtime at Mabula, Nicole Brenan from Durban Spa and Ursula Humphries from Champagne Valley. HOSPITALITY AWARDS: Awarded to resorts based on customer feedback alongside iExchange collected data. Read more . RESORT SERVICE EXCELLENCE CHAMPIONS: This award recognizes individuals who are passionate about what they do and always put the customer first. Read more . Congratulations and well done to all the individuals and resorts who stood out in the last year! The next iExchange Awards Programme cycle is from July 2021 to June 2022, officially starting on 1 July every year to coincide with iExchange’s birthday! For more information about the iExchange Industry Awards Programme and how you can become part of it, please click here . Submitted by: Krissi Banzon on behalf of the Beekman Group.

Judy Stuart, an award-winning Howick dairy farmer who has always had a passion for all things agricultural. Judy is one of South Africa’s most revered dairy farmers, contributing to farming publications, and representing South Africa at global conferences on dairy farming and agricultural innovations. Her brainchild, the Future Farmers Foundation aims to cultivate skills and ignite a passion for farming in farmers between the ages of 18 and 26 years. The aspirant farmers are provided the opportunity to ‘learn as they earn’ through real job experiences in an agricultural field of their choice. The farmers are placed in apprentice positions on local and then later international farms, returning home to South Africa with their expertise. Judy now has farmers in large commercial operations around South Africa in responsible farming roles such a running over a thousand dairy cows. Judy commented that the Foundation only provides opportunities and mentorship, it is up to each young farmer to make the most of the programme.

In today's business world, the name of the game is staying with the times -- it's not an easy thing to do when the trends are always changing. Which medium will better promote your products or services and keep your sales rolling in? DIGITAL OR PRINT? Is it even necessary to print anymore? Electronic media definitely looks like it could replace traditional print for good. However, indications show that this trend is not so definite. Print media is showing new potential to promote products or services alongside digital media. In marketing we all need to evolve one step ahead of the current trends. Think about it. We launched our first edition of KZN Business Sense, as a digital publication with a print version as an add-on. At that time, Andrew Layman (then the CEO of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and I debated the publication's medium in great depth. Which would be more effective; print or digital? We decided to marry the two. Eight years down the line and the publication is a booming success because we inadvertently stumbled across a winning formula. Our platform combines print and digital as well as interfaces the editorial contents with over 35 social media platforms and RSS feeds. The number of advertisers has been limited and we focus on supplying business related news articles. This is a winning formula from a marketing point of view. We have very loyal readers and very happy advertisers. You might know you need to turn up your digital marketing game. And your question (naturally) might be, “how?” One really good answer: think in terms of campaigns. 1. Content Marketing Campaign 2. Social Media Marketing Campaigns 3. Off-Page SEO Campaign 4. Email Campaigns 5. businesschannel Marketing Campaign 6.Print Campaign If your target market is specifically business in KZN give me a call and I'll be more than happy to share my knowledge on how to marry the two mediums in marketing your business, services or products. Grant Adlam WhatsApp 0832629529 adlam@icon.co.za www.kzntopbuisiness.com

We are delighted to feature Ashok Sewnarain CEO of International Bank Vaults on the front page as well as on page three of this edition of Business Sense. Ashok is the well deserving winner of the Standard Bank KZN Top Business Personality of the Year award 2021. Entering awards offer a number of benefits to businesses which should not be easily overlooked. Business awards are validation, recognition, a celebration and great public relations opportunities for businesses. All the Standard Bank KZN Top Business Award 2021 winners of this year’s event are featured in a special insert in this edition. We congratulate all these winners and the finalists on their achievements. The July edition of Business Sense welcomes some new editorial partners to our existing contributors. These are Melinda Cookson CEO Futurelink Flexible Staffing on page 2 and Thabani Zulu from Stella Lumen on page 14. Other regular contributors include: SLG which not only supplies pipeline and compressed natural gas, but also prides itself in ensuring that its customers use gas optimally. Read more on page 4. There is a call for entrepreneurs to enter KZN tourism projects for possible funding and to register for the TIA360 eThekwini Tourism Investment Symposium, which is set to take place in July. See page 4. Marlene Powell in Biz Talk Corner who is on hand to assist family run business to create a legacy – page 13. Johan van Deventer, Regional Manager KZN, LabourNet who provides some advice around the necessary actions required to manage workplace accidents effectively – page 14. Nikita Pillay comments on remuneration, which remains the most critical factor for the attraction, motivation and retention of staff both to and in an organisation – page 15. Dr Fareed Amod of Crown Dental Studio who asks the question: Why are regular dental visits considered a luxury? – page 15. David White is the South African Chamber of Business in London, South African country chapter leader. He is passionate about growing trade opportunities between South Africa and the United Kingdom. Read more on page 16. Please take the time to follow the links to see the videos that accompany many of the editorials. #KZNbusinesssense

Many companies in South Africa continue to trade out of a hard lockdown implemented in March 2020. As a national staffing company at the coal face of placing people into a variety of positions within various sectors of the South African economy, key roles continue to be filled with experienced and skilled people. Whilst some companies continue to offer graduates entry level positions as part of their learnership programmes, so much more still needs to be done in this area. The burden of unemployment is also concentrated amongst the youth as they account for 59.5% of the total number of unemployed persons of which graduates unemployment rate was 40.3%. Some of these young people have become discouraged from participating in the labour market and they are also not building on their skills base through education and training – they are not in employment, education or training (NEET), (According to: Quarterly Labour Force Survey of 2021). Pro Bono Graduate Programme In the midst of 2020, Futurelink embarked on an initiative to bridge the gap between graduates and industry. Our goal was to help this country’s graduates find a foot hold in the employment arena to give them valuable practical experience within their specific area of learning and to simultaneously offer industry access to a resource of interviewed, highly capable, resilient, and intelligent young graduates without having to pay exorbitant salaries. Futurelink is offering this service to industry for FREE. The clients we have partnered with have found the investment of their time in upskilling and developing these graduates a worthy investment. For more information on our Pro Bono Graduate Programme please email: Natalieharvey@futurelink.co.za #KZNbusinesssense

Ashok Sewnarain is the founder and chairman of IBV International Vaults (IBV), a world class and sophisticated, privately owned safe deposit vaults in South Africa. Sewnarain was born in Mayville, Durban and his father ran a small, often struggling, estate agency. When Sewnarain took over the family business, he utilised his entrepreneurial mindset to inject new ideas into it, expanding into the hotel and hospitality industry as the barriers put up by apartheid were dismantled. “It was around 2004 when I overheard a bank teller saying that there is a long waiting list of people who wanted to put their valuables in the bank’s vault. I jokingly said that I will open my own vault,” Sewnarain says with a wry smile. Sewnarain began to seriously think about opening a vault. He did extensive research, which took him to other countries to look at how the vaults are constructed, the finance involved, security features and a host of other things. He found that there is substantial demand for such sophisticated facilities. In May 2005, Sewnarain opened the first private vault facility in Umhlanga’s Gateway Mall. Since then, IBV has grown exponentially and operates branches globally in London, Switzerland, and Dubai. “We choose the best malls and prime spots for our vaults. Our first site was selected because of its proximity to significant business and residential developments in KwaZuluNatal. Also, the layout of the Gateway complex facilitates IBV’s strict security standards.” “It’s a risk to have a safe at home because many people have access to your home. We offer a solution, and peace of mind. We add value to the country in a sense that people can safely keep their gold and other assets in the country instead of sending them offshore.” IBV offers safety deposit boxes in a modern-day fortresses. The vaults are built to international standards and specifications, complete with steel-reinforced concrete and protected by a sophisticated, multitiered security system. They are monitored by trained professionals 24/7. Sewnarain subscribes to the philosophy that says one should persevere and be determined to pursue one’s dreams in whatever business that one chooses. He says, “Business is full of risk and challenges that we must confront on a daily basis.” He added that he had had many failures in his business career, but all had made him more knowledgeable and humble. However, in advising other entrepreneurs, Sewnarain says, “You must be bold and have courage to launch business ventures with honesty and respect for staff, customers, suppliers and service providers.” “Life is about dreaming big. Dream to make a million dollars, rather than a million rand. The most successful people in the world dream big. It’s free. It has no boundaries and borders,” he explained. He also suggested that businesspeople should visualize their life as a set of ladders. One for spirituality and health, one for one’s career and earnings and one for investments and savings – and the final one, being the personal living and lifestyle ladder. “If you measure these four ladders, you will find that your Lifestyle ladder will be dictated by the first three ladders. If you fail, you will fall off your ladder.” IBV’s customers have special, reserved parking close to the facilities and many of them drive exotic cars. The IBV Supercar Club has spun off from the vault business; has a membership of more than 700 super-rich car owners and is recognised as one of the world’s leading supercar clubs. Sewnarain is its founder, leading patron and chairman. The members of the club often raise funds for charity. In 2014, they won the Guinness world record for the most number of supercars in a charity parade and raising R1 million for Child Welfare of South Africa in record time. The club has also partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund Unicef in raising money for charity. Sewnarain commented that he tries to create a balance between good business and profit through providing community and social support. This balance is achieved by promoting a spirit of social entrepreneurship, which he believes is an important aspect that every business leader should adopt in their own enterprises. He concluded, “The more that you give the more that you get”. #KZNbusinesssense

I specialise in family businesses and have worked through and overcome the frustrations and challenges that family-owned businesses often face. Ultimately, I have assisted in achieving personal and business goals for both the owner as well as their team, be it family or not. There is nothing more important in a family run business than to create a legacy for future generations. This is achieved through the implementation of simple, practical tools, systems and methodology that has been developed specifically for small and medium sized businesses who want their businesses to be profitable, work and run without them. Does this sound like what you need in your business? So, a few questions; as a business owner is your business: Able to sustain itself whether you are present or not? Still dependant on you financially to support the business, but the operation can run without your input Still dominated by your presence and control both financially and operationally? Where are you currently in your business? You may now be in a position to either: Sell your business Groom up a family member as CEO or general manager (GM) to take over the reins from you Take your business to the next level (Growth Phase) by wanting to implement or improve your systems and bring on/groom your team to scale your business But what do you, as the business owner want? Do you want to be in or out? This is a question that is crucial to consider as your answer will determine how successful your business will continue to be into the future. Your successor and team will need to know what your intentions are. If you are not sure then engage with me and let’s set up an alignment where we will explore your options, what your personal goals are and how your business can assist you in achieving these goals. What are your options should you decide to do any of the above? 1ST OPTION: Sell your business* There are a number of factors that influence the ability to sell and the price that buyers will be willing to pay for your business. These are: Strong, consistent cash flow Assets owned People, process, and systems Scalability of the business Culture of the organisation 2ND OPTION: Groom a CEO/GM to take over the reins from you If your business has the above in place and you don’t want to sell, then you can identify your successor who you will groom into your position over a period of time. The first requirement is to find your ideal family member who will be the right fit for this position. They would already have been in your business learning the ropes and have developed sound skills, expertise, and experience in the key focus areas of the business i.e., marketing, sales, finance (profitability), systems and team (sustainability) as these are vital to the continued success of your business. 3RD OPTION: Implement/improve robust systems and develop the team to prepare your business for growth If your business does not have or you are not confident with the above in place then who, if not you, do you need to bring into your business to ensure that they will be able to implement or improve the systems and grow the team? Again, consider who in your family would be the right fit for each of the key focus areas of your business to prepare your business for growth and ultimately to put it into a saleable position where you are able to make the decision whether to sell or groom up a CEO/GM. Do you have family members who are equipped in the key focus areas i.e., marketing, sales, finance, systems, and teams? This will ensure that your business will be robust and equipped to run whether you are present or not. Everything I have mentioned above is simple, but not easy and, you may be thinking ‘easier said than done’. I agree. However, whether you know or don’t know what you want, contact me and I will show you how. *Pieter Scholtz is a master licensee for ActionCOACH South Africa www.marlenepowell.com #KZNbusinesssense

The Nelson Mandela Foundation is inviting everyone to join them on 18 July as we honour Madiba’s birthday by contributing to meeting the immediate needs of the most vulnerable communities. While the Mandela Day call to action remains a general call to reach out to those in need, this year, the focus will be on the challenge of food security. Before Covid-19, the statistics showed us that one in four six-year-olds in South Africa suffered from stunting due to malnutrition. The ravages of the pandemic will surely worsen this devastating reality. By harnessing the Each1Feed1 programme to Mandela Day and developing the 4Cans4MandelaDay campaign, we aim to ensure that basic foodstuffs reach the most vulnerable communities this July. In the longer term, we are committed to using our research and advocacy capacity to address the systemic issues which cause food insecurity in our country. We believe that getting this right is fundamental to social cohesion and respect for the rule of law. Each 1 Feed 1 is a food distribution network championed by the Nelson Mandela Foundation that was started at the beginning of the lockdown to support families who have been worst affected by the challenge of food insecurity. Beneficiaries have included child-headed households, orphaned families, the elderly, people who are informally employed in the ECD workforce as well as people living with disabilities. The food pack has historically been robust and nutritious, capable of supporting a family of five for at least a month. The public is encouraged to emulate the campaign in their own ways to ensure that everyone has access to food this Mandela Day. We are inviting the public to donate to the campaign via our GivenGain platform or by contributing to the Each 1 Feed 1 #4Cans4MandelaDay call to action. Over Mandela Month, July 2021, the public is encouraged to contribute to the Each 1 Feed 1 food distribution network by donating non-perishable food items at all participating malls for Mandela Day. All participating malls will have clearly marked signage and a Mandela Day representative at the collection point where people can drop off their donations. Lastly, the public is encouraged to register on the Mandela Day Global Network on our ForGood platform. Here, you will find pre-vetted NGOs looking for volunteers this Mandela Month to safely donate time, skills, and resources. The ForGood platform is also an excellent portal to find ‘microvolunteering’ opportunities from the convenience and safety of home. To stay informed, subscribe to our newsletter from nelsonmandela.org #KZNbusinesssense

You’ve heard it before, ‘costcutting’, ‘project savings’, ‘limited operational expenditure’, ‘do more with less’. These are common phrases in the manufacturing sector. So what can an organisation do to jump on board the savings and sustainability bandwagon? As the heartbeat of all operating plants, the procurement and usage of energy attracts the most cost and requires continuous monitoring, analysis, action and improvement. Organisations need to get the correct people to answer the following imperative questions. How can fuel be optimally used? Are we combusting it correctly? Is the end-use justified and optimised? Whether its boilers, furnaces, ovens, stentors or even welding applications, all fuel-burning equipment requires monitoring and optimisation, in order to yield the best results. Safety First In a combustion reaction, a fuel reacts with oxygen. These reactions transfer energy to the surroundings as light and heat. Combustion safety is paramount and if not conducted correctly, it could lead to a chain of catastrophic events. To ensure safe and complete combustion, excess oxygen needs to be supplied to the combustion process. Failure to provide sufficient air into the combustion process means that not all fuel will not be burned and, consequently, it will be lost up the stack in the form of combustibles. Not only does this result in an obvious waste of valuable energy, but also presents as a safety hazards, as the possibility of explosions are created. Fuel Efficiency On the other hand, when there is too much air in the combustion process, additional fuel is burned to raise the temperature of this excess air to that of the combustion process. Excess air is a costly waste of fuel, because it simply absorbs heat that goes up the stack, rather than being used in the operating process. Finding the Optimal Balance The luxury of ensuring that your process receives the correct quantities of air has now become a necessity. The optimum zone of combustion has a small range, so how can one get the right balance? Firstly, one needs to monitor and analyse the stack or flue gas, by means of a flue analyser. Traditionally this was seen as expensive, however, the development of this technology, have made them affordable. As part of its value-added services to customers, SLG’s flue gas analyser is available to all customers at no cost. Additionally, coupling the signals from the analysers to that of the fans will ensure that production is in the optimum combustion zone. Un-optimised combustion can cause industries to spend as much as 10% extra on fuel overheads, which is a massive expense, especially if calculated over a five to ten-year contract term. Over the recent years, SLG’s gas analyser has enlightened customers on efficient combustion. The analyser has revealed inefficiencies and the potential for financial savings, and in some cases, has highlighted significant safety risks of substoichiometric combustion and carbon monoxide formation. As a reputable gas supplier in the energy sector, SLG not only supplies pipeline and compressed natural gas, but also prides itself in ensuring that its customers use gas optimally. Complementary, value-added services, ensure that all customers are familiar with the full supply chain, the safety and compliance requirements and lastly, the need to ensure allround optimisation. T: +27 (0)31 812 0555 W: www.slgas.co.za #KZNbusinesssense