N E W S L E T T E R EDITION 4 | JUNE / JULY 2020
Monthly GrowSA
Stakeholder Publication
“Stay curious and
never lose your sense ON THE PAGES
of awe.”
- Old Mutual‘s Strategic Page 2
Marketing Manager, A message from behind the door
Karabo Ramookho
Page 4 Page 3
Achieving Future Competitiveness
after the pandemic
Page 4
Never lose your wonder!
Page 5
Financial planning for SME’s
under the spotlight
“We all have great business ideas, but
we have to solve problems in a structured Page 6
way. Execution is everything in business.” Zizwe Opencast Mine paying it
– Kobie Pruis, CEO of Zizwe Opencast forward with SME partnerships
Mining (Pty) Ltd
Page 6 Page 8
Social License reframed as
impact investment
Page 10
The new reality of business
chambers
Page 12
From humble beginnings to
success-filled endeavours!
“Social responsibility
can stretch much further Page 14
than the actual rand Sipho Nkosi -
value invested when the focused and humble
community, government
and local business take Page 15
hands.” SBI is the voice of Small business
– Dick van der Wal,
CEO of Tala Group Page 16
Page 8 Register for the annual growsa
small business summit
EDIT ORIAL
DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL?
This is not another “doom and gloom”
piece of writing…in fact. The GrowSA editorial team would like to hear from our readers, how they overcame
challenges and what they did to grow their businesses. If you have a story to tell, send
Could 2020 and the lockdown us an email to kamilla@businessdna.co.za and we shall contact you for more
perhaps be the best things that information.
happened to your business? Strange
as it might sound, it may just be.
If ever there was a “Black Swan” WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADVERTISE?
event, it was COVID-19. A Black
Swan event is a rare event that could
not be predicted, and neither could its GrowSA News will be published monthly in an electronic format by BusinessDNA,
consequences be foreseen. the communication partner of GrowSA. To place your advertisement in the GrowSA
Newsletter, contact Kamilla Venter at: +27 (0) 76 966 9032 or send her an email at:
kamilla@businessdna.co.za
I want to introduce you to a new
concept coined by Nassim Taleb –
antifragility. Make this word your word
for 2020…
EDITORIAL CONTACT DETAILS
We all know that fragile objects break
under pressure. However, some things BusinessDNA
improve under pressure - diamonds
come to mind - and this is what +27 (0) 76 966 9032 | kamilla@businessdna.co.za
antifragility is about. Antifragility is www.businessdna.co.za
what we need to handle and optimise
the Black Swan event we are currently
experiencing.
Our business might be reduced to the MIND YOUR MEETINGS
bare bones of its former self, but it
will enable you to see what the core
is about again. It allows you to see
where the framework was fragile. You Meetings have always been part of a business, but in the past
now have the opportunity to address three months, the nature of meetings changed significantly, and it
underlying problems, this is the time to
retrain your staff to deliver service, to actually feels more intense than ever.
be productive, and to implement new
systems to be agile for future growth.
Unfortunately, people forgot that the meeting protocol that they used when they had a face
Antifragility will give you resilience. to face meetings are as important now, as it was then.
Use the advice we provide in this
GrowSA News to become antifragile • When you send a meeting invitation, indicate the purpose of the meeting in the subject
and make your mark in the economy line, e.g., Approval of the budget; Finalisation of the marketing plan; Team feedback on
that is lurking in the wings.
targets for July. This will ensure that people come prepared.
• Have an agenda that will help you achieve the purpose of the meeting and make
it time-based, e.g. Check-in – 5 minutes; Context of the process up to now on the
marketing plan – 10 minutes; Discussion on the different elements of the plan – 20
minutes ( 5 minutes per element); Next steps – 10 minutes; Conclusion and check-
out 10 minutes. Send this in the body of the invitation and the reminder email to the
people that must attend the meeting. If possible, send the Draft Marketing plan with
the invitation and indicate that they must read and prepare by thinking about specific
issues.
• Send the Meeting Notes within 24 hours after the meeting. Do not expect people to
Dr Amanda Hamilton-Attwell, listen to the recording of the meeting to get context – they will not, and as the facilitator
Executive Editor of the meeting, it is your role to send Meeting Notes and move the discussion forward!
02 GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS
BUSINESS OPP OR TUNITIES
ACHIEVING FUTURE
COMPETITIVENESS AFTER
THE PANDEMIC
RE-SET, RE-PURPOSE AND RE-START
The current reality of small businesses could be described as
a fight for survival. Unfortunately, the regulations to reopen
Vision
business were announced too late, and many jobs and Future proof
dreams were lost. Although some businesses carried on as Develop
adaptive
before, the innovative ones adapted and are even going capabilities
into a growth phase in this time – to be Future Competitive. Customer Insight
What did they do, and how can we learn from them? Mr. and Staff Research &
Feedback data
Pieter Aucamp from Bluestream Consulting has been assisting
businesses to be Future Competitive, and he advised the INSIGHT,
business owners to follow the agile, adaptive strategic process DESIGN, ADAPT
of insight, design, adapt and build to reposition themselves. AND BUILD
Adapt Redefine
Technology Strategic
In preparation, he recommended the following to Innovation Positioning
small business owners: Talent
Communicate
and implement
1. Understand the impact COVID-19 had on all aspects immediate
of the business. Determine how it created new customer priorities
needs and business opportunities you can use for your
business – or build a new business.
2. Use research to get insights on the changes in the business
and the environment by researching customers, staff members, supply-chain, industry leaders, and other stakeholders that
influence your business.
3. With these insights, decide how to adapt to the paradigm shift by reviewing the Purpose, Strategy, Structure, Culture, Talent,
Customers and Technology required to service the new market reality.
4. Communicate with your stakeholders to get them excited about the new direction of the business and the benefits it holds for all.
At this point, you must stress test your communication strategy and its effectiveness to communicate timely and accurately to your
key stakeholders.
5. Build adaptive capacities to enable the Future Competitiveness needed to deliver sustainable value differentiation, efficiency,
and cost benefits now and in the future, focused on People and Technology.
6. Create a continuous feedback loop between the leadership and the stakeholders, utilising a systems approach of real-time
intelligent information and feedback of all experiences and from all the business processes and all stakeholders.
If you would like assistance with getting your business Future Competitive, please contact Mr. Pieter Aucamp at:
pieter@bluestreamgroup.co.za
JUNE / JULY 2020 | GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS 03
GRO WS A P AR TNER
NEVER
LOSE YOUR
WONDER!
This month GrowSA News would like to
introduce Ms. Karabo Ramookho, Old
Mutual ‘s Strategic Marketing Manager.
I joined Old Mutual in my 20’s as a Sales Support Manager. I then
moved into a Sales Manager position before leaving for three and a half Karabo Ramookho
years to work in TV production. I returned to Old Mutual in July 2010 as
a Regional Marketing Manager for Gauteng, for five years. In 2015, I
was promoted to Head of Marketing for Personal Financial Advice. In this Outside of work, I am a mom of three, and studying part-time. I serve
position I gained a greater understanding of Old Mutual; and developed on our church’s leadership and worship teams. I love reading, writing,
an appreciation of Old Mutual’s adviser footprint. This helped me cooking, watching murder series on TV and spending time with my
immensely in my current role as Strategic Marketing Manager to define husband and our extended family.
the value of advice to customers at every stage of life.
The best piece of advice that somebody gave me came from my late
My vision for the future is to see South Africans, in both the private Dad. He said, “A lie is a handle that fits every pot of sin.” In our industry,
and public sectors, coming together to rebuild an inclusive, tolerant honesty is super important. In adviser and customer conversations, both
and growing economy. I am hoping that businesses, government and parties must be honest in building the right financial plan.
individuals alike, have used this time to reflect, to re-invent and re-
engineer the old with the sole purpose of rebuilding the economy when And the advice Karabo will give her younger self, would be “ Your
this virus is finally under control. dreams are valid. Watch out for procrastination and you should try
everything, at least once!
My philosophy in life is to stay curious and never to lose your sense of
awe. As we grow older, we tend to become cynical thinking that we have THE BUSINESS PERSON
“arrived”. However, when we stay curious and maintain a childlike sense
of awe, we allow ourselves to stay open minded and able to innovate COVID-19 had a severe impact on SMEs, forcing every business owner
quicker and more regularly. to rethink and evaluate their business strategy and how to adapt and
plan for the new future. To assist SMEs Old Mutual will soon launch a
“Stay curious and new flexible product to enable a business, together with its financial
adviser, to customise a plan for these unique circumstances. We have also
never lose your developed a Retrenchment Survival Guide for businesses that are forced
to retrench employees, intending to assist and guide the business and
affected employees to deal with the situation and create a new future.
sense of awe.” We also implemented special relief measures for our existing customers.
Ask your adviser about these.
Click here if you would like to speak to a financial adviser about risk solutions for your
business, yourself or your employees.
04 GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS | JUNE / JULY 2020
P AR TNER AD VICE
Click on the logo if you would like to connect with a
financial adviser.
FINANCIAL
PLANNING FOR
SME’S UNDER
THE SPOTLIGHT
The fast-changing environment, brought about by
COVID-19, is challenging for all business owners
and forces them to adapt and review business
strategies and plans to ensure survival and future
competitiveness.
Apart from some immediate relief options offered by various institutions, now is the time also to review the status of the financial plan and measure it against
the objectives, and adjust where necessary.
Use this logical framework to understand and determine the needs for specific situations.
Look at four distinct, but interrelated, categories as indicated below. Here are some of the questions to consider:
How do you protect you and your family’s lifestyle?
Protection for loss or damage of assets, and potential liability?
Determine and understand if your current lifestyle costs are
Business assurance for key employees sustainable.
Contingent liability What kind of risk protection is in place to protect
Buy-and-sell arrangements personal property against damage and theft?
What employee benefits are offered? Do you have you a plan that makes provision
How will you deal with retrenchments? BUSINESS LIFESTYLE for essential lifestyle adjustments following
severe illness, injury or disability suffered by
a member of the family?
The survival of the (family) business is at
stake and various aspects require thorough Building assets outside of the business is not
consideration. only a sound diversification strategy, but
also essential to protect your lifestyle.
Is there a long-term business plan and are the LEGACY INVESTMENTS
The objective should be to build up sufficient
family members aware of the plan? (investment) capital to enable you to maintain
Has/Have the successor/s been identified your lifestyle independent from your business.
early? Is a buy-and- sell agreement in place
should something happen Is your investment strategy aligned to your risk
profile, expectations , investment timeline and
Is there a timeline for the current owner to step down and diversification objectives ?
the successor/s to take over?
What if the owner dies without having accumulated enough
Does the documentation give effect to the plan? (Review the will, trust assets? Will the family be able to maintain their lifestyle?
deed/s and agreements to ensure alignment with the objectives.)
Unfortunately, well-meant advice at the braai is not a substitute for professional financial advice. An accredited financial adviser is authorised to provide
financial advice based on a thorough analysis of the business owner’s unique circumstances. A well-designed financial plan is within everyone’s reach to
create certainty for the business, the owner and his family, as well as their future.
JUNE / JULY 2020 | GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS 05
FEA TURE COMP ANY
ZIZWE OPENCAST
MINE PAYING IT
FORWARD WITH SME
PARTNERSHIPS
Zizwe is known for its successful partnerships with
small businesses in the Middelburg area. We
interviewed Mr. Kobie Pruis, CEO of Zizwe, to learn Zizwe Head Office, Middelburg
more about their approach.
WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TOWARDS SME’S
We currently have two joint ventures, i.e., Zizwe Batlaste (Pty)
Ltd and Jagdlust Joint Venture, a further five partnerships with
SME’s and twelve with ME’s. Our primary purpose is to develop
sustainable businesses within the communities where we operate.
We recruit SME’s from the local environment of the specific
site, contract them as preferential suppliers, and support them
with enterprise development initiatives. Usually, the community
leaders would suggest candidates, which we then evaluate for
their sustainability. We aim to work with professional, purpose-
driven, and passionate partners. They need to comply with our
requirements in terms of their service offering, their B-BBEE status, Kobie Pruis, Zizwe CEO
and specified client needs. We work in very close proximity to
our SME’s, which requires transparency and hard work from
both parties, to ensure a sustainable and mutually beneficial Zizwe Opencast Mining (Pty) Ltd is one of the most
relationship. competitive mining contractors in South Africa. Zizwe was
established in 2003 as a BBBEE Company in the Eastern
HAVE SOME OF THE PARTNERSHIPS FAILED Bushveld Complex ranging from Steelpoort to Polokwane.
Initially, Zizwe entered into a partnership with Fraser
AND IF SO, WHY? Alexander to offer bulk earthworks, bulk materials handling,
and opencast mining services.
Indeed, how else would we learn? The most common reason
for failure is unrealistic expectations by the SME to make a lot of ‘Zizwe’ means “Nation” in Zulu. Unity is the very essence of
our identity and partnerships is the centre of our company’s
money in a short time frame.
value offering.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SME’S In 2006 a strategic decision was taken to develop the
WHO WANT TO APPROACH MINES OR ANY company into a significant individual player as a Mining
Services Company. The focus was to grow the business in
OTHER BUSINESS FOR THAT MATTER? the Steelpoort Valley, but the business soon expanded to
North West and Mpumalanga.
• First impressions matter, and in most cases, paperwork is the
first introduction. Zizwe believes in strategic long-term partnerships with all
• If we provide a tender document, ensure that all required shareholders in its business. Zizwe is a 51% black-owned
company.
documentation is submitted before the specified deadlines.
• Always be teachable and humble.
06 GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS | JUNE / JULY 2020
JET Maimela (Zizwe HR Director); Zanele
Masilela (Genlou); Tlou Poopedi (Zizwe Bulk Freeman Phafundi (Zizwe partnership with
Mech Director); Thandiwe Mabena (Genlou) Phafundi Enterprises); Neil Archer (Zizwe
celebrating the partnership between Zizwe Commercial Director); Wilma Stolz (Zizwe Howard Manaaso Maimela (Zizwe Chairman)
and Genlou Industrial Supplies and Repairs CC Shared Services Director) standing next to Zizwe Batlase’s new ADT’s
WHY DO YOU THINK MINES, OR ANY OTHER BUSINESS, SHOULD CONSIDER FORMING
PARTNERSHIPS WITH SMES?
Zizwe’s very existence and today’s success is only possible due to our then ‘big brother’ company, Frazer Alexander, who took us under
their wing and contracted us for a project. What better way to display our gratitude than to pay it forward? Not only do partnerships
benefit Enterprise Development and Preferential Procurement ratings, empowering someone else to reach their dreams is reward in itself. It
provides for lifelong relationships and other potential collaboration opportunities.
ONE LAST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE SMES?
We all have great business ideas, but we have to solve problems in a structured way. Execution is everything in business.
YOUR PREFERRED
YOUR PREFERRED
SOUTHERN AFRICA
ZIZWE SOUTHERN AFRICA
OPENCAST MINING
OPENCAST MINING
COMPANY
COMPANY
• Opencast Mining Hard Rock & Coal
•
• Materials Handling
Opencast Mining
Hard Rock & Coal
• Crushing & Screening
•
Materials Handling
• Drilling & Blasting
•
Crushing & Screening
013 244 1226 •
Drilling & Blasting
zizwe@zizwe.co.za
Tel: 013 244 1226
www.zizwe.co.za
Email: zizwe@zizwe.co.za
www.zizwe.co.za
ZIZWE OPENCAST MINING (PTY) LTD
ZIZWE OPENCAST MINING (PTY) LTD
B-BBEE Level 3
B-BBEE Level 2
51% Black owned
51% Black owned
10% Black Woman owned
10% Black Woman owned
JUNE / JULY 2020 | GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS 07
CORP OR A TE SOCIAL RESP ONSIBILIT Y
SOCIAL LICENSE REFRAMED
AS IMPACT INVESTMENT
Community and Local Economic Development expenses is not a choice for a mining company. It is a contractual
obligation, structured as a social compact with the State and Local Government and recorded in the Social Labour
Plan, forming one of the qualifying criteria to obtain and maintain a mining licence.
The Social Labour Plan (SLP) requires that, amongst others, a mine get
involved in local job creation, community development and economic
upliftment through enterprise development.
For Dick van der Walt, CEO of Tala Group, a Junior Mining Group in the
Middelburg area, community investment fits into the group’s abundance
ethos and also provides the pivot for reframing the compliance approach
of executing an SLP, to the impact investment mindset adopted by the Tala
Group.
“It is up to the company to make it another “grudge expense” incurred
as part of a compliance mindset. Alternatively, it can be reframed as an
investment that has the social return of positive contribution to the growth of
the community while also harvesting an economic recovery by creating a
stable and efficient operational environment for the mine” says Dick.
“Social responsibility can stretch much further than the actual rand value
invested when the community, government and local business take hands,”
says Dick.
Dick van der Walt, CEO of Tala Group
By integrating the stakeholder positioning, one can expand the limited
perspective of an SLP into a Social Compact Model where mines and
other commercial enterprises in a district combine resources and utilise the
various regulatory enablers for maximised outcomes.
Dick views the advent of the District Development Model as breaking
new ground for expanding the concept of the Social Compact Model
approach to Social Impact. For more information about the model, please
email Dick van der Walt on: dick@talaresources.co.za
A Centre for the Aged and
an Early Childhood Centre
in Doornkop Community was
Khumo Laundry Services. renovated.
The District Development Model, announced by
the President Budget speech in 2019, aims to
improve the coherence and impact of government
service delivery. Currently, 44 Districts and 8
Metros around the country were identified as
development spaces that can be used as centres
of service delivery and economic development,
including job creation.
The Ligbron Online Learning A Kitchen Development Project
Several community organisations in the Mhluzi Community and system (LES), at Tsiki Naledi at L.D Moetanalo High School
in the Mhluzi Township.
Secondary School.
Doornkop districts already benefited from this Social Compact Model
08 GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS | JUNE / JULY 2020
Q&A
ASK THE EXPERT
Ask the expert is a column for our readers. You can send us your
questions and we will find an expert to respond. This week’s question was
all about the realities of a family business
GROWSA NEWS RECEIVED THE
FOLLOWING QUESTION FROM ONE OF
OUR READERS:
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, I had to retrench two of my people who had mobile
phones to do their work. As we vacated the office, we did not need the switchboard anymore and
returned it. The company expects me to pay the full amount – is that fair?
We asked our expert, Advocate Neville Melville,
former Ombudsman for Consumer Goods and
Services, for advice:
The starting point is: What do the terms of the contract say? The
Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled that it must be interpreted
to contain a tacit (understood) term that the contract may be
terminated by either party, on reasonable notice. The party
terminating early may have to pay a fee or penalty, but this must
not be out of proportion to the harm suffered by the supplier. The
supplier must, however, take reasonable steps to reduce its losses
by, e.g., finding another tenant or reselling goods returned.
The terms of a contract may specifically refer to termination
in the case of force majeure. The consensus amongst lawyers
regarding whether the Covid-19 related lockdown amounts to
force majeure, thereby releasing parties from their contracts, is that
it does not.
The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) lists factors that must be
considered in calculating a penalty, including whether or not About the panelist: Advocate Neville Melville is the former
the goods are returned to the supplier. The penalty must not be Ombudsman for Consumer Goods and Services with
so high that it has the effect of negating the consumer’s right to considerable experience in the running of businesses and
cancel. organisations.
JUNE / JULY 2020 | GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS 09
FEA TURE CHAMBER
THE NEW REALITY OF
BUSINESS CHAMBERS
Business chambers, especially those in the rural areas, are under pressure. On the
one hand, the need for personal networks was replaced by social media networks
and, on the other hand, the new generation business owners questions the value they
gained from being a member of a business chamber. They need to be convinced…
The reality is that there is much to gain from being a member of a FOR A BUSINESS CHAMBER TO ADD
business chamber. We met with Mr. Pieter Malan, the chairperson VALUE FOR A POTENTIAL MEMBER, IT
of the Rustenburg Business Chamber, to discuss the value and the
realities of business chambers in rural areas. SHOULD PROVIDE THREE THINGS:
CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE • Members must feel they gain status in the business community
by being a member of the chamber.
• Life-long-learning is not an option anymore; it is a necessity.
“The current economic climate is not conducive to small business, A chamber should provide intelligence to its members – that
and even though small businesses might not realise it, this is specific piece of information that a particular group of people
exactly the time they need to structure the business chamber will need at a specific time.
offering,” says Pieter. His view is that the rural business chambers • People should know that all business people will not share the
can provide business owners with accurate information about the same views. The chamber should give members access to a
economic climate in the area, as well as how to refresh and re- network that will enable them to test their views and sharpen
think their business models and the products and services they will their minds.
offer to the markets.
For more information about the Rustenburg Business Chamber,
The Rustenburg area is a typical example of so many rural areas please email Pieter Malan on: pieter@bunmalan.co.za
with one primary industry driving the economy of the area, in this
case, the platinum mines. The fact that the mines are the epicenter
of the economy will mean that a problem in that environment
immediately has an increasing ripple effect in the economy of the
area. These problems can have a socio-political or an economic
impact or even bring changes in technology, but eventually, the
biggest reality is the “end of mine” reality and this strengthens the
case for a strong business chamber.
The leadership of the business chamber which includes
representatives from all the sectors and businesses in the area,
needs to work with the mines to ensure that Rustenburg does not
become another casualty of mine closures. The role of GrowSA
is to assist business chambers in reorganizing and revitalizing
themselves to continue the critical role they have to play in the
economic growth we need.
10 GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS | JUNE 2020
Medsac is an engineering
and manufacturing company
located in Steelpoort, Limpopo,
that is managed and owned
by an entrepreneur with an
international qualification in
Mechanical Designs.
We manufacture from precision engineering
designs and provide our services in various Black-owned, B-BBEE level 1
disciplines/fields within the capabilities of
the organization. Unit 30, Glencore Mining Supply Park
Steelpoort, 1133
Medsac aims to provide customized services
to clients; to adapt designs to the latest Managing Director:
technological development and to empower Mr Brilliant Katlego Shoba
the local youth through our company. Our
values are sustainability, precision, and 079 080 3064
quality.
bshoba@medsac.co.za
www.medsac.co.za
SERVICES
• Rebuilding of machines
• Crushers and Bellows
• Hydraulic pipe crimping
• Steel Construction
• Plant maintenance
PRODUCTS
• Hydraulic cylinders
• Bolt and nuts
• Roof bolts
• Electrode casings
• Lancing tubes
• Hydraulic fittings
JUNE / JULY 2020 | GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS 11
T ES TI M ON IA L S
FROM HUMBLE
BEGINNINGS TO SUCCESS-
FILLED ENDEAVOURS!
Brilliant Shoba grew up in Ga-Nkoana, a village located in Limpopo. He completed
his primary and secondary school in Steelpoort. In 2008 he completed his Mechanical
Engineering qualification at Tswane South College. After he completed his apprenticeship,
he qualified as a fitter and turner. In the next couple of years, he worked for Xtrata,
Northam and Glencore until he got the opportunity to study Mechanical Design in Beijing,
China. He returned to South Africa and tried his first shot at running his own company,
Medsengineering. In 2015 however, Glencore Lion Smelter offered him a job which he
accepted.
Brilliant was, however, still determined to make a success of his own company and he
independently pursued opportunities as Medsac Enterprises. Medsac currently employs
20 people and their customers include Glencore, Samancor, Northam Platinum, Anglo
American, other private entities, and the local municipality. He has a passion for healthy
living, and he is the father of two beautiful daughters.
His advice to upcoming small business is always to follow your passion, to focus on what
you already know, to work your way to bigger jobs and to create alliances. He suggests
that one should discern between partners that are aligned with your goals. He always
believes in pursuing personal development and have a mentor to keep you accountable to
these goals.
BRILLIANT SHOBA
Lindelani Nyathikazi, the owner and Managing Director of Amangoma Resources
(AR) is an experienced director with a demonstrated extensive history of working in the
mining & metals industry. Skilled in leading multidisciplinary teams executing projects,
maintenance, process continuous improvements and sales. This strong business development
professional graduated from the University of KwaZulu Natal with an Electrical Engineering
Degree, UNISA with a Master’s Degree in Business Leadership, is in possession of a
Government Certificate of Competency and is currently pursuing a Chartered Global
Management Accountant qualification with CIMA based in the United Kingdom. Mr
Nyathikazi has been part of numerous successful strategic projects on energy savings,
process automation and safety engineering in his career which makes him an ideal man to
lead a team that provides engineering services and supplies to the mines, smelters and other
heavy manufacturing industries.
Under Mr Nyathikazi’s leadership, AR was nominated in 2019 as one of the top 20 South
African SMME’s to participate in the pilot Germany/South African Government one-month
full time trade training programme facilitated by TÜV Rheinland, Köln, Germany which
was sponsored by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
and the Department of Trade and Industry (dti). Amangoma Resources also participated
in a 2019 Hannover Messe Germany Engineering and Technology trade fair where the
company was exposed to numerous global technological advancements towards the fourth
industrial revolution (4IR).
LINDELANI NYATHIKAZI
12 GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS | JUNE / JULY 2020
Your complete engineering
sales and services offering on
instrumentation, electrical
and mechanical products
and projects. We offer
engineering supplies, designs,
installations, commissioning
and maintenance. Amangoma
is also a registered importer
and exporter with ability to
do direct purchases from
German and Chinese based
manufacturers.
Amangoma Resources (Pty) Ltd was
registered in 2014 and started operating
in 2016. The company has a level 1
B-BBEE status with 100% black ownership.
Amangoma boasts a team of highly skilled
and experienced Engineers, Technicians,
Instrument Mechanics, Electricians, Fitters,
Boilermakers and Welders.
+27 13 235 0339
sales1@amangoma.co.za
www.amangoma.co.za
16 Buhrmann Street, Corner of Buhrman
and Joubert Streets, Lydenburg, 1120 13
JUNE / JULY 2020 | GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS
PERSONALIT Y OF THE MONTH
SIPHO NKOSI -
FOCUSED AND HUMBLE
Sipho Nkosi is currently the Chairperson
of the Board of Small Business Institute
(SBI) but who is he when he is not in the
chair?
Sipho tells, with a chuckle in his voice, that he was born and
raised in a town in KwaZulu Natal that became well-known for
all the wrong reasons - Nkandla. His father was an evangelist,
and his primary schooling was at a Dutch Reformed and, later,
a Lutheran school, impacting significantly on his world view and
work ethic.
The limitations he experienced in his life never limited him to
achieving his aspirations and goals. When he needed money as
a young boy, he saw people selling empty bottles. He did the
same and earned what he needed.
Due to the school system, he passed matric without Maths and
Science. Still, that did not stop him from completing a BComm
degree. He completed a bridging course at the University of
Zululand, where he was enrolled.
This inherent drive to work hard for his goals might be embedded Sipho Nkosi
in the lesson he learned from his grandfather: Do not expect help
from other people as it will lead to a crippling dependency.
Even though he retired as a successful business leader a few He was also once told that he should not attend a specific
years ago, he learned some tough lessons on the way. These meeting any longer because he did not contribute in a meaningful
include experiences like being retrenched and not being able to way. This resulted in another lesson: make sure you know the
find a job, and, on a positive side, being a role model for young industry, know the business and contribute if people think you are
people. worthy of being invited to a meeting.
Instead of sitting out his frustration of not finding a job, he decided Hendrik van der Bijl is one of his business role models. He started
to upgrade his skills set by doing an MBA in Boston. several companies in South Africa because he believed in the
country, and that South Africa should be a better place, and that
Another hard lesson was when his supervisor told him that we could be better.
he would not succeed because he was “giving away” his
opportunities. What he realised was that, when you are given an His message to business leaders, big and small, is simple: “Have
opportunity, fill the space; own the responsibility and do not let it a vision, be proactive, propose solutions, and mentor people - in
slip from your hands. business, but also communities.”
14 GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS | JUNE / JULY 2020
COLL ABOR A TIVE P AR TNERS
SBI IS THE VOICE OF
SMALL BUSINESS
“The SBI is indeed the voice
of small business,” says Sipho
Nkosi, Chairman of the Small
Business Institute (SBI).
To facilitate the sound growth of small businesses, SBI will, for
example, raise and address concerns regarding access to
finance, regulations that limit business and payment terms.
The current COVID-19 pandemic might have prevented SBI from
implementing its 2020/2021 business plan, but it did not impact
on its goal. During this challenging time, SBI created a COVID-19
resource page with links to all the organisations and websites for
small business owners to negotiate the current landscape. From
the comments they received, it is clear that small business owners
appreciated the list of websites and programs.
When asked about his view on corporate social responsibility
(CSR), Sipho made it clear that he supports the saying that
you should teach people to fish and not just give them a fish.
CSR projects should be done in a way that will empower the
beneficiaries and not be done in a way that will only address
their immediate needs. Helping people to build and grow their
small businesses will not only provide an income to the new small
business owner, but it will also enable them to become employers
and contribute to the community eventually.
“To succeed, networks and alliances are important,” says Sipho.
“ That is why SBI form alliances with organisations like GrowSA.
Similarly, business owners, especially small business owners,
ought to join chambers of commerce in their area. As part of a
chamber, they will meet other like-minded people and will be
informed about assistance available and new and changed rules
and regulations that will impact on them.”
JUNE / JULY 2020 | GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS 15
GRO WS A PRESENT S
POSITION YOUR BUSINESS FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
REGISTER FOR THE ANNUAL
GROWSA SMALL BUSINESS
SUMMIT
GrowSA, in partnership with World Class Summits, is presenting the Annual Small
Business Summit starting on 25 June, spread over three weeks, to enable you to
access the material of all the speakers.
As a member of your local Chamber, Business Network or Association, you qualify for a 20% discount on your registration fee.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The benefit of being an online summit is that the registration and sessions are not limited to a specific timeline. You can register form today until
December and still have access to the lectures. The first session will be available from 25 June. There are three sessions
Session 1: Financial Solutions available from Thursday 25 June
Session 2: Industry Solutions available from Thursday 2 July
Session 3: Growth Solutions available from Thursday 9 July
You can access a list of the lectures, detail of the presenters, and additional information on the registration link.
The time you will have access to the lectures in the different sessions will depend on the registration package you subscribed to.
When you register, the system will automatically give you access to Session 1.
REGISTRATION PACKAGES
Option 1: Live access only
Chamber member price R199 Non-member price R249
Option 2: 1-month access to all sessions
Chamber member price R311 Non-member price R389
Option 3: 6 months access with extra free follow-up webinars
Chamber member price R391 Non-member price R489
These highly affordable registration fees are made possible with the support from our Growsa Founding Partner Old Mutual – the trusted
Financial Adviser to Small Businesses for the past 175 years!
REGISTER NOW
Register online: www.worldclasssummits.com/GrowSA and mention the name of your Chamber, Network, or Association.
16 GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS | JUNE 2020