GrowSA_Newsletter_June/ July_2020

NEWSLETTER EDITION 4 | JUNE / JULY 2020

Monthly GrowSA ON THE PAGES
Stakeholder Publication
Page 2
“Stay curious and A message from behind the door
never lose your sense
of awe.” Page 3
- Old Mutual‘s Strategic Achieving Future Competitiveness
Marketing Manager, after the pandemic
Karabo Ramookho
Page 4 Page 4
Never lose your wonder!
“We all have great business ideas, but
we have to solve problems in a structured Page 5
way. Execution is everything in business.” Financial planning for SME’s
– Kobie Pruis, CEO of Zizwe Opencast under the spotlight
Mining (Pty) Ltd
Page 6 Page 6
Zizwe Opencast Mine paying it
“Social responsibility forward with SME partnerships
can stretch much further
than the actual rand Page 8
value invested when the Social License reframed as
community, government impact investment
and local business take
hands.” Page 10
– Dick van der Wal, The new reality of business
CEO of Tala Group chambers
Page 8
Page 12
From humble beginnings to
success-filled endeavours!

Page 14
Sipho Nkosi -
focused and humble

Page 15
SBI is the voice of Small business

Page 16
Register for the annual growsa
small business summit

EDITORIAL DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL?

This is not another “doom and gloom” The GrowSA editorial team would like to hear from our readers, how they overcame
piece of writing…in fact. challenges and what they did to grow their businesses. If you have a story to tell, send
us an email to [email protected] and we shall contact you for more
Could 2020 and the lockdown information.
perhaps be the best things that
happened to your business? Strange WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADVERTISE?
as it might sound, it may just be.
GrowSA News will be published monthly in an electronic format by BusinessDNA,
If ever there was a “Black Swan” the communication partner of GrowSA. To place your advertisement in the GrowSA
event, it was COVID-19. A Black Newsletter, contact Kamilla Venter at: +27 (0) 76 966 9032 or send her an email at:
Swan event is a rare event that could [email protected]
not be predicted, and neither could its
consequences be foreseen. EDITORIAL CONTACT DETAILS

I want to introduce you to a new BusinessDNA
concept coined by Nassim Taleb –
antifragility. Make this word your word +27 (0) 76 966 9032 | [email protected]
for 2020… www.businessdna.co.za

We all know that fragile objects break MIND YOUR MEETINGS
under pressure. However, some things
improve under pressure - diamonds Meetings have always been part of a business, but in the past
come to mind - and this is what three months, the nature of meetings changed significantly, and it
antifragility is about. Antifragility is actually feels more intense than ever.
what we need to handle and optimise
the Black Swan event we are currently Unfortunately, people forgot that the meeting protocol that they used when they had a face
experiencing. to face meetings are as important now, as it was then.

Our business might be reduced to the • When you send a meeting invitation, indicate the purpose of the meeting in the subject
bare bones of its former self, but it line, e.g., Approval of the budget; Finalisation of the marketing plan; Team feedback on
will enable you to see what the core targets for July. This will ensure that people come prepared.
is about again. It allows you to see
where the framework was fragile. You • Have an agenda that will help you achieve the purpose of the meeting and make
now have the opportunity to address it time-based, e.g. Check-in – 5 minutes; Context of the process up to now on the
underlying problems, this is the time to marketing plan – 10 minutes; Discussion on the different elements of the plan – 20
retrain your staff to deliver service, to minutes ( 5 minutes per element); Next steps – 10 minutes; Conclusion and check-
be productive, and to implement new out 10 minutes. Send this in the body of the invitation and the reminder email to the
systems to be agile for future growth. 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
Antifragility will give you resilience. issues.
Use the advice we provide in this
GrowSA News to become antifragile • Send the Meeting Notes within 24 hours after the meeting. Do not expect people to
and make your mark in the economy listen to the recording of the meeting to get context – they will not, and as the facilitator
that is lurking in the wings. of the meeting, it is your role to send Meeting Notes and move the discussion forward!

Dr Amanda Hamilton-Attwell,
Executive Editor

02 GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

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
before, the innovative ones adapted and are even going Develop
adaptive
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 &
Pieter Aucamp from Bluestream Consulting has been assisting Feedback
businesses to be Future Competitive, and he advised the data
business owners to follow the agile, adaptive strategic process
of insight, design, adapt and build to reposition themselves. INSIGHT,
DESIGN, ADAPT

AND BUILD

In preparation, he recommended the following to Adapt Redefine
small business owners: Technology Strategic
Innovation Positioning

Talent

1. Understand the impact COVID-19 had on all aspects Communicate
of the business. Determine how it created new customer and implement

immediate
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:
[email protected]

JUNE / JULY 2020 | GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS 03

GROWSA PARTNER

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 Karabo Ramookho
moved into a Sales Manager position before leaving for three and a half
years to work in TV production. I returned to Old Mutual in July 2010 as Outside of work, I am a mom of three, and studying part-time. I serve
a Regional Marketing Manager for Gauteng, for five years. In 2015, I on our church’s leadership and worship teams. I love reading, writing,
was promoted to Head of Marketing for Personal Financial Advice. In this cooking, watching murder series on TV and spending time with my
position I gained a greater understanding of Old Mutual; and developed husband and our extended family.
an appreciation of Old Mutual’s adviser footprint. This helped me
immensely in my current role as Strategic Marketing Manager to define The best piece of advice that somebody gave me came from my late
the value of advice to customers at every stage of life. Dad. He said, “A lie is a handle that fits every pot of sin.” In our industry,
honesty is super important. In adviser and customer conversations, both
My vision for the future is to see South Africans, in both the private parties must be honest in building the right financial plan.
and public sectors, coming together to rebuild an inclusive, tolerant
and growing economy. I am hoping that businesses, government and And the advice Karabo will give her younger self, would be “ Your
individuals alike, have used this time to reflect, to re-invent and re- dreams are valid. Watch out for procrastination and you should try
engineer the old with the sole purpose of rebuilding the economy when everything, at least once!
this virus is finally under control.
THE BUSINESS PERSON
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 COVID-19 had a severe impact on SMEs, forcing every business owner
“arrived”. However, when we stay curious and maintain a childlike sense to rethink and evaluate their business strategy and how to adapt and
of awe, we allow ourselves to stay open minded and able to innovate plan for the new future. To assist SMEs Old Mutual will soon launch a
quicker and more regularly. new flexible product to enable a business, together with its financial
adviser, to customise a plan for these unique circumstances. We have also
“Stay curious and developed a Retrenchment Survival Guide for businesses that are forced
never lose your to retrench employees, intending to assist and guide the business and
sense of awe.” affected employees to deal with the situation and create a new future.
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

PARTNER ADVICE 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:

Protection for loss or damage of assets, and potential liability? How do you protect you and your family’s lifestyle?

Business assurance for key employees Determine and understand if your current lifestyle costs are
sustainable.

Contingent liability What kind of risk protection is in place to protect
personal property against damage and theft?
Buy-and-sell arrangements

What employee benefits are offered? BUSINESS LIFESTYLE Do you have you a plan that makes provision
How will you deal with retrenchments? 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 LEGACY INVESTMENTS Building assets outside of the business is not
stake and various aspects require thorough only a sound diversification strategy, but
consideration. also essential to protect your lifestyle.

Is there a long-term business plan and are the The objective should be to build up sufficient
family members aware of the plan? (investment) capital to enable you to maintain
your lifestyle independent from your business.
Has/Have the successor/s been identified
early? Is a buy-and- sell agreement in place Is your investment strategy aligned to your risk
should something happen 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

FEATURE COMPANY Zizwe Head Office, Middelburg

ZIZWE OPENCAST Kobie Pruis, Zizwe CEO
MINE PAYING IT
FORWARD WITH SME Zizwe Opencast Mining (Pty) Ltd is one of the most
PARTNERSHIPS competitive mining contractors in South Africa. Zizwe was
established in 2003 as a BBBEE Company in the Eastern
Zizwe is known for its successful partnerships with Bushveld Complex ranging from Steelpoort to Polokwane.
small businesses in the Middelburg area. We Initially, Zizwe entered into a partnership with Fraser
interviewed Mr. Kobie Pruis, CEO of Zizwe, to learn Alexander to offer bulk earthworks, bulk materials handling,
more about their approach. and opencast mining services.
‘Zizwe’ means “Nation” in Zulu. Unity is the very essence of
WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TOWARDS SME’S our identity and partnerships is the centre of our company’s
value offering.
We currently have two joint ventures, i.e., Zizwe Batlaste (Pty) In 2006 a strategic decision was taken to develop the
Ltd and Jagdlust Joint Venture, a further five partnerships with company into a significant individual player as a Mining
SME’s and twelve with ME’s. Our primary purpose is to develop Services Company. The focus was to grow the business in
sustainable businesses within the communities where we operate. the Steelpoort Valley, but the business soon expanded to
We recruit SME’s from the local environment of the specific North West and Mpumalanga.
site, contract them as preferential suppliers, and support them Zizwe believes in strategic long-term partnerships with all
with enterprise development initiatives. Usually, the community shareholders in its business. Zizwe is a 51% black-owned
leaders would suggest candidates, which we then evaluate for company.
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,
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
relationship.

HAVE SOME OF THE PARTNERSHIPS FAILED
AND IF SO, WHY?

Indeed, how else would we learn? The most common reason
for failure is unrealistic expectations by the SME to make a lot of
money in a short time frame.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SME’S
WHO WANT TO APPROACH MINES OR ANY
OTHER BUSINESS FOR THAT MATTER?

• First impressions matter, and in most cases, paperwork is the
first introduction.

• If we provide a tender document, ensure that all required
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 Freeman Phafundi (Zizwe partnership with Howard Manaaso Maimela (Zizwe Chairman)
Masilela (Genlou); Tlou Poopedi (Zizwe Bulk Phafundi Enterprises); Neil Archer (Zizwe standing next to Zizwe Batlase’s new ADT’s
Mech Director); Thandiwe Mabena (Genlou) Commercial Director); Wilma Stolz (Zizwe
celebrating the partnership between Zizwe Shared Services Director)
and Genlou Industrial Supplies and Repairs CC

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.

ZIZWE SSYOYOOOOPUUUUETNTRRHHCPPEEARRRRSEENNTFFEMAEARFRFIRNRRREIIIEDCCNDAAG
OCPOEMNPCAANSYT MINING

COMPANY

• Opencast Mining Hard Rock & Coal

•
• MateOripales nHcanadslitngMining

Hard Rock & Coal
• Crushing & Scre•ening

Materials Handling
• Drilling & Blastin•g

Crushing & Screening
013 244 1226 •

Drilling & Blasting

[email protected]

wwEwm.zaizTilwe: lz:[email protected]
ZIZWE OwPwENwC.zAizSwTeM.cIoN.IzNaG (PTY) LTD

ZIZWE OPENCAST MINING (PTY) LTD

B51-B%BEBEla1Lce0k%ve5oBlB1w2l%-aBnceBBkdElaWEcokLmeovawennloe3wd ned
10% Black Woman owned

JUNE / JULY 2020 | GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS 07

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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 Dick van der Walt, CEO of Tala Group
involved in local job creation, community development and economic
upliftment through enterprise development. Khumo Laundry Services. A Centre for the Aged and
an Early Childhood Centre
For Dick van der Walt, CEO of Tala Group, a Junior Mining Group in the in Doornkop Community was
Middelburg area, community investment fits into the group’s abundance renovated.
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.

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: [email protected]

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.

Several community organisations in the Mhluzi Community and The Ligbron Online Learning A Kitchen Development Project
Doornkop districts already benefited from this Social Compact Model system (LES), at Tsiki Naledi at L.D Moetanalo High School
Secondary School. in the Mhluzi Township.

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, About the panelist: Advocate Neville Melville is the former
former Ombudsman for Consumer Goods and Ombudsman for Consumer Goods and Services with
Services, for advice: considerable experience in the running of businesses and
organisations.
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
the goods are returned to the supplier. The penalty must not be
so high that it has the effect of negating the consumer’s right to
cancel.

JUNE / JULY 2020 | GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS 09

FEATURE 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 SHOULD PROVIDE THREE THINGS:
realities of business chambers in rural areas.
• Members must feel they gain status in the business community
CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE by being a member of the chamber.

“The current economic climate is not conducive to small business, • Life-long-learning is not an option anymore; it is a necessity.
and even though small businesses might not realise it, this is A chamber should provide intelligence to its members – that
exactly the time they need to structure the business chamber specific piece of information that a particular group of people
offering,” says Pieter. His view is that the rural business chambers will need at a specific time.
can provide business owners with accurate information about the
economic climate in the area, as well as how to refresh and re- • People should know that all business people will not share the
think their business models and the products and services they will same views. The chamber should give members access to a
offer to the markets. network that will enable them to test their views and sharpen
their minds.
The Rustenburg area is a typical example of so many rural areas
with one primary industry driving the economy of the area, in this For more information about the Rustenburg Business Chamber,
case, the platinum mines. The fact that the mines are the epicenter please email Pieter Malan on: [email protected]
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 Black-owned, B-BBEE level 1
and manufacturing company
located in Steelpoort, Limpopo, Unit 30, Glencore Mining Supply Park
that is managed and owned Steelpoort, 1133
by an entrepreneur with an
international qualification in Managing Director:
Mechanical Designs. Mr Brilliant Katlego Shoba

We manufacture from precision engineering 079 080 3064
designs and provide our services in various
disciplines/fields within the capabilities of [email protected]
the organization.
www.medsac.co.za
Medsac aims to provide customized services
to clients; to adapt designs to the latest
technological development and to empower
the local youth through our company. Our
values are sustainability, precision, and
quality.

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

TESTIMONIALS

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

[email protected]

www.amangoma.co.za

16 Buhrmann Street, Corner of Buhrman
and JoJuUNbEe/rtJUSLYtr2e02e0t|s,GLRyOdWeSnAbMuOrNg,TH1L1Y2N0EWS 13

PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH

SIPHO NKOSI -
FOCUSED AND HUMBLE

Sipho Nkosi is currently the Chairperson Sipho Nkosi
of the Board of Small Business Institute
(SBI) but who is he when he is not in the He was also once told that he should not attend a specific
chair? meeting any longer because he did not contribute in a meaningful
way. This resulted in another lesson: make sure you know the
Sipho tells, with a chuckle in his voice, that he was born and industry, know the business and contribute if people think you are
raised in a town in KwaZulu Natal that became well-known for worthy of being invited to a meeting.
all the wrong reasons - Nkandla. His father was an evangelist,
and his primary schooling was at a Dutch Reformed and, later, Hendrik van der Bijl is one of his business role models. He started
a Lutheran school, impacting significantly on his world view and several companies in South Africa because he believed in the
work ethic. country, and that South Africa should be a better place, and that
we could be better.
The limitations he experienced in his life never limited him to
achieving his aspirations and goals. When he needed money as His message to business leaders, big and small, is simple: “Have
a young boy, he saw people selling empty bottles. He did the a vision, be proactive, propose solutions, and mentor people - in
same and earned what he needed. business, but also communities.”

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
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
years ago, he learned some tough lessons on the way. These
include experiences like being retrenched and not being able to
find a job, and, on a positive side, being a role model for young
people.

Instead of sitting out his frustration of not finding a job, he decided
to upgrade his skills set by doing an MBA in Boston.

Another hard lesson was when his supervisor told him that
he would not succeed because he was “giving away” his
opportunities. What he realised was that, when you are given an
opportunity, fill the space; own the responsibility and do not let it
slip from your hands.

14 GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS | JUNE / JULY 2020

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS

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

GROWSA PRESENTS

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