ITA News Online
Edition One 2009


INDEX
1. NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT: ADAM RABIE
2. ITA MEMBER COMPANY NEWS
3. BUSINESS UNITY SOUTH AFRICA
4. BEE WATCH
5. JCSE REPORT
6. ICT FUNNIES
7. NEWS HOUND
8. WITSA NEWS
9. EWASA REPORT

NOTES FROM THE ITA PRESIDENT: ADAM RABIE

With the holiday season over at such a rapid rate it is hard to believe that a new year has begun.

An uncertain and critical year lies before us, the global financial crisis had deeply affected everyone.

The question of when will the current economic crisis ever end and what should be done to surmount this crisis is on the tip of everyone's tongue? Just as no country or no individual was able to predict accurately when this global economic crisis would begin; it is also true that no one can give an assuring answer at this time to the question about when the crisis will end.

How fast we will be able to overcome the crisis hinges partly on our own actions but more importantly on what actions countries around the world will take. On the local front we saw interest rates cut by 50 basis points, and a strengthening local currency making crude oil cheaper for South Africa to buy, which in turn makes fuel cheaper for local companies to produce and then sold off cheaper to motorists.

A stronger Rand and dwindling oil price, as has been prevailing on markets recently, led to a significant fuel price cut bringing prices to levels last seen in 2007. The strength or weakness of the Rand, among other factors, controls inflation giving consumers the ability to purchase more or less with the same amount of currency as was previously possible. The textbook definition of inflation is the rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time. Plainly put, inflation means a consumer is getting less goods or services for the same amount of money as he or she was getting yesterday. Currencies are sensitive to the slightest changes and perceptions in the market and of particular interest to international investors will be South Africa's general election in late April this year. "The Rand is set to strengthen in the first half of the year, but if certain risks like election violence do play out, investors are going to be hesitant to invest in the country. "Also, if the global recession intensifies, investors are going to practice emerging market risk aversion, which means pulling capital out of developing countries and pumping it into developed economies.

Further to this, Nedbank Chief Economist Dennis Dykes explained that their official forecasts expect the Rand to weaken to about R10 to the dollar in the first half of 2009. We have to keep ones self fluid, scan the environment and look for the good news all around. It is not all doom and gloom. ITA has an exciting programme for members going into the New Year which we will share with you on a regular basis. We have decided on a theme of collaboration this year: Together we can build a better future. Despite all the threats and challenges before us, so long as we unite as one and work together, we will be able to bring about a better future for all.

I wish all of you a happy, joyous New Year.

Yours sincerely

Adam Rabie
ITA President

ITA Member Company news
Aligning Employer Brand with target market to enable effective attraction, retention and development of talent.

What does Employer Brand actually mean?

An employer brand, or even better, a corporate culture is a collection of ideas and beliefs that influence the way current and potential employees view an organization, the employment environment or the experience that organization is offering. A company's mission statement should incorporate the company culture and values to ignite the employee's passion to fit in with the organizational culture and aid the company's forward growth. Everything an organization does will influence how prospective employees view its employer brand.

'Brand management was created by Procter & Gamble in 1931. These principles were first used by the US Army 80's although the term 'employer brand' wasn't used until the early 1990's as a term to help organisations drive greater employee commitment and compete more effectively for talent. (Source: The Employer Brand, Simon Barrow, Richard Mosley 2005)

Every company should align itself to the global market if they are to thrive in today's interconnected economies. The competition for talent has become global and businesses are struggling to fill key roles as staff demand new horizons and new challenges. Employer branding provides a strong employment promise to new recruits as well as points out the positive difference against competitors.

Successful companies' objectives in developing their employer brand are to become an employer of choice. It is becoming harder and harder for any company in the market place to attract outstanding caliber people. Unemployment is at a record high but skilled Labour is at a record low so the need to compete against other companies and not only to draw talent but also to draw the right talent into your organization, is a priority!

Talent looks at the way jobs are designed; the way that tasks and activities are allocated; the way that managers and supervisors deal with and communicate with their people, through to the way their product or service brand is actually perceived by the wider market. Even the way a potential employee's friends and relatives see the “future employer affects the decision making of a prospective employee!

How do organizations create an Employer Brand that delivers results?

To develop a successful employer brand, you must first understand what perceptions and beliefs your current employees and the talent market already have about your organization's culture and brand promise. This requires research by the right people. It is really important to understand why potential recruits either want to join your organization or wouldn't even consider you as a potential employer. It is equally important to understand what your employees, in all departments and office locations, understand to be your employer brand. What the 'added value' of being an employee with your company really is and if these perceptions don't match up to your business goals then it is time to begin looking at readdressing your employer brand.

Companies can utilise their labour suppliers feedback, exit interviews, employee surveys, external surveys and many other means across a wide range of stakeholders to bring their current employer brand into focus.

1) Research your company's current talent attraction and retention performance:

  • Ascertain in which departments or job titles you have problems hiring.
  • Assess whether your current employees represent the calibre of employees you would like to hire in the future.
  • Ensure that the right people at your organization are conducting the interviews; do they represent the image you would like to convey to the market place?
  • If you make a job offer and it is declined, find out why the applicant wasn't interested in joining your team.
  • Conduct exit interviews to establish why people are leaving your organization.

2) Conduct an audit on your company's values and points of difference from competitors:

  • List the reasons why someone may opt for employment with your organization.
  • It may be worthwhile to conduct a survey and/or a focus group with internal and external stakeholders to compare your stated company values with the reality of internally and externally held perceptions and opinions about your organization.

3) Consistency between brand reality and the image you sell are critical for success:

  • Ensure current employees are aware of what the organization represents in terms of culture and values.
  • Measure the consistency of your employer brand across all channels.
  • Become business partners with your Labour supplier, let them advise you of the daily challenges they face regarding your talent acquisition requirements.

Placing an advertisement in the newspaper is no longer sufficient to source talent. One needs to use a very diverse range of print advertising, online and networking channels to attract candidates and your labour suppliers can talk you through the merits of each one. Your labour supplier can also help you identify and highlight your organizational selling points based on what candidates give them as feedback and on what is offered in the market place.

4) Initiate your roll-out plan:
a.   Establish an 'Employer Brand Team' which includes at lease one C-level Executive.
b.    Ensure the values and attributes are conveyed in your hiring channels such as advertising, company websites, labour suppliers and public relations programmes.
c.   Review the messaging on a quarterly basis to ensure your organization continues to adhere to the guidelines you have established.
d.   Conduct an annual 'brand health check' to measure the perceptions of your internal and external stakeholders.

Once this is achieved, it is important to create a brand development team that encompasses a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that the final product truly reflects the ideas and beliefs of the entire organization. This will be a costly but necessary exercise!

This would be the role of the Strategic Manager to ensure that the Mission Statement is communicated from higher levels of the company through to the lower levels and to ascertain whether the company is working towards the unified goal.

Once your employer brand has been defined and implemented, consistency is key to success. All communications (both internal and external), policies, actions, goals, business plans - everything you say and do - must be consistent with your employer brand promise.

Finally, just as a business is not static, neither is an employer brand.

It is important to periodically measure the success of the employer brand and its continued relevancy to employees through ongoing research.

How does an effective employer brand assist in the attraction and retention of quality staff, particularly Generation X and Y?

  • The silent generation is probably exiting the working environment, probably retiring, age group of about 60-70's and they have been influenced by world events such as the rise of the apartheid era, WW2, colonisation etc.
  • The boomer generation is in their 40-50's, and generally occupy positions of authority; are optimistic idealists who place tremendous value in team orientation and excellence through hard work. They are image conscious, strive for personal growth and gratification, and would do anything to stay young!
  • The X generation are in their 20-30's; they are rising to the ranks of management. Influenced by globalisation, information revolution, political and socio-economical turmoil.

·Technophile pragmatists!

These individuals want choices, are very adaptable to change, are not afraid of failure and expect INSTANT GRATIFICATION in most instances.

· Finally, generation Y!

Those are our youngsters, just entering the work environment. They are optimistic, confident and have a high self esteem. They have grown up in a world of TV, cell phones and the Internet. They know terrorism and protectionism quite well. They are technophiles comfortably engaging with people through social networking sites such as Facebook and Mixit. They crave a sense of community and commitment.

Currently, many businesses are still geared towards the values of the silent and boomer generation even though this has began to change in the last decade, and Boomers are taking over the reigns of leadership. Things will have to change drastically in the near future and businesses will have to put emphasis on flexibility and be more accommodating for the new generations entering the work force.

Attracting Talent.

Gen X's and particularly Gen Y's are very sceptical about companies that don't have a web presence. If they're actively seeking new job opportunities they're going to search the Internet and visit job portals, they will not rely on traditional classified adverts. If you're struggling to attract the younger talent, perhaps it's time that you re-looked at your website  and assessed the image you're portraying to the market place.

Changing The Way You Recruit (reference: www.apso.co.za) In order to achieve success, recruiters have to develop new tactics to deal with the changing attitudes and expectations of talent across the different generations.  There is definitely no longer a “one size fits all” approach to handling counter-offers and other recruitment issues. Your labour suppliers have to be professional strategists and not just a “CV pushing” service! Choose your labour suppliers carefully, they too must represent your brand and be able to share your vision just like your managers do!

The latest trend in recruitment procedures will be devastating to businesses! Many organizations are cutting budgets to accommodate for increased costs of operations and reduced turnovers due to external factors. As a result, organizations attempt to cut down their recruitment costs by recruiting on their own, staff whom they perceive to be easy to find e.g., receptionists, secretaries, credit controllers, call centre staff, etc. Big mistake! Organizations create a weak link in their operation this way … Why?

1. Most in-house recruiters are not experienced or even trained in talent evaluation and acquisition.
2. No third party buffer to overcome objections from Gen Y recruit. As a result, offers are declined!
3. Internet portals deny corporate access to their “CV pool” databases and therefore limit organizations to only “today's fresh career seekers”!
4. Close the door to the constructive criticism they would receive regarding their company branding and recruitment processes.
5. Gen Y's don't understand hierarchy and formalities! They need coaching regarding interviews and recruitment procedures, and assessments - something that your labour supplier should be doing!

The battle for the 'first interview' is often the most important battle to win.
An employer brand and reputation go a long way in attracting people and this is particularly beneficial for many larger companies. Smaller companies, however, need to better communicate their culture, philosophy and vision to potential candidates.

The first interview is absolutely crucial!

Companies in today's times that insist from their suppliers to do a skills assessment prior to the first interview will be short-lived!

It is surprising how little emphasis is placed on a “first impression” by most organizations! Serious consideration should be given to whether an HR person tasked with 'getting through the CV numbers' can communicate the correct culture and vision at this critical stage. As Jack Welch says in his book 'Winning', If your company does not have the competitive advantages then don't compete.

Communicate Effectively.

The younger generations are technophiles and expect their recruitment professionals to be the same! X and Y career seekers want to know why it's necessary to interact face-to-face if Skype, web cam is available? Why they can't do the typing assessments online from their home/office or an Internet café? Why does your labour supplier not have SMS facilities or the ability to engage with them via Facebook or LinkedIn?

Managing Expectation.

Gen X's and Y's demand instant gratification and don't always understand why the recruitment process takes so long! It is therefore even more important that you spend time with them at the outset explaining the process and what you, and their, responsibility is during the recruitment cycle. Do the same with your labour suppliers.

Ensure that you schedule regular feedback opportunities.

Listening and Meeting their Requirements.

Gen X's place a great deal of importance on their individualism and opportunity to control their own lives through choice.  As a result, they require a great deal of information about the position, the management style, their promotional prospects and their ability to control their working life. Make sure that your labour supplier has all this information so that they can execute the required tasks efficiently and to your expectations.

They are interested mostly in perks, the hours, the salary and how this job is going to benefit them, rather than what they can bring to the company.  This can be particularly tricky when one considers that the majority of decision makers are Boomers who have a completely different perspective on things!

Handling the dreaded “Counter-Offer”.

My initial training in recruitment (late 1980's) taught me to approach the counter-offer issue by repeating to the candidate how a counter-offer was an insult because it meant that their current employer hadn't appreciated them all along. The tactic works if you need to attract the Boomers who place emphasis on loyalty and a sense of belonging but it doesn't work for Gen X or Y. Gen X's, and in particular Gen Y's, are all about “what's in it for me, right now?” and will have no qualms about accepting a counter-offer today and resigning again in a couple months time when the extra few thousand Rand is no longer an incentive to stay.

As a result, your labour suppliers and your recruiters need to re-assess the way they approach counter-offers and be aware that, when dealing with younger generations, and in particular, those with skills that are high in demand and in short supply, the counter-offer is to be expected. By understanding what truly motivates the career seeker and core values of each generation the recruiter will be more equipped to find things within the organization's operation to offer the new recruit that will be more attractive than just money!

Sylvia Thomaides
Operations Director

Information sourced from:

  • The Employer Brand by Simon Barrow and Richard Mosley (2005)
  • APSO website: www.apso.co.za
  • HR Future by R. Henson (2007)
  • Winning by Jack Welch



 

BUSA PRESIDENT, BRIAN MOLEFE ADDRESS AS OF AUGUST 2008 GOING INTO 2009

It would be remembered that BUSA had secured a date of the 19th of August for a meeting to be addressed by the President of the African National Congress, Mr Jacob Zuma. The meeting was aimed at providing the members of BUSA, and business in general, with the platform to engage the ANC President on the economic policy of the ANC, especially the likely direction of the new government after the General Elections in 2009, as well as the envisaged role of business going forward.

Owing to the non availability of the ANC President, the BUSA MANCO agreed to go ahead and meet the ANC Office Bearers as well as the organisation's Economic Policy Unit, under the chairmanship of Max Sisulu. The delegation from Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) was led by the President, Mr. Brian Molefe and the ANC''s delegation was led by its Treasurer General, Dr. Mathews Phosa.

BUSA, as the voice of organised business, agreed to the meeting in order to engage with the ANC leadership in an attempt to concretise a future working relationship whereby business can continue to play a proactive role in bringing about a healthy and prosperous South Africa.

The ANC welcomed the BUSA initiative and stated that organised business is an important role player in South Africa and that continual engagement on key issues would certainly add value not only in developing policy but in moving to actual delivery and implementation on agreed initiatives. BUSA raised matters pertaining to economic policy, the coordination of campaigns and better use of Nedlac. BUSA stressed its willingness to engage on key matters using its existing machinery more effectively to help build the nation. The ANC spelt out the role of recently created task teams and once again reiterated the need not only for sound policy but also the need for speedier delivery particularly in the areas of economic growth linked to the eradication of poverty and the creation of jobs. The ANC went further to challenge organised business to be more proactive in its engagement with the ANC and Government rather than taking what is seen as primarily a reactive role.

SADC Private Sector Workshop on Regional Integration
On 2 and 3 July 2008, the SADC Employers Group hosted a workshop for private sector rpresentatives on the regional economic integration agenda. Participants from 11 of the 14 SADC Member States came together in Johannesburg to discuss the key issues involved in implementation of the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) as well as the proposed Customs Union. The outcome of the meeting was a detailed position paper setting out the views of the SADC private sector. It was agreed that the focus should be on the effective operation of the FTA before negotiations begin on a Customs Union. These views were presented to SADC Heads of State at the launch of the FTA on 17 August 2008 in Johannesburg.

WTO Negotiations
BUSA representatives participated in the South African delegation to the WTO MiniMinisterial Conference held in Geneva from 21 to 30 July 2008. While it appeared that some agreement might be possible on key issues in the agricultural and industrial negotiations, it was not possible in the end for WTO Members to reach consensus and the talks collapsed. BUSA has expressed its disappointment at this outcome which means that the status quo continues for the foreseeable future and South African exporters of agricultural products will continue to face competition from subsidised goods. There were issues of particular concern to South African manufacturers in the nonagricultural market access (NAMA) negotiations and BUSA issued a joint statement with business organisations from India and Argentina setting out its views.

Electricity Update
BUSA representatives continue to participate in the various multistakeholder electricity forums. The National Stakeholder Advisory Council on Electricity held its second meeting on the 16th September 2008, under the chairmanship of the Deputy President, Phumzile MlamboNgcuka. BUSA representatives raised various matters including issues around process; limited progress with the development of the protocols on new connections and dealing with load shedding in case of another emergency; and the potentially burdensome 2cKwh levy. BUSA representatives are involved in the discussion on the electricity pricing policy at NEDLAC.

The Council received numerous updates from ESKOM and Government on cogeneration, pricing, rationing policy and load shedding. Issues were raised on the interconnectedness of the cogeneration objectives with the pricing issues. The concerns with low levels of savings was strongly raised, and the possible supply shortages in 2012.

The Council meeting was further informed of the Plan to hold a “National Energy Efficiency Day” where the current high energyconsuming lights will be replaced with efficient ones. A day will be selected, and highly publicised for all stakeholders, including business. The energy champions will be progressively used, and booklets are being published to create a publicity offensive on energy efficiency.

Competition Policy Following months of negotiations at NEDLAC, BUSA made presentations to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry on the proposed Competition Amendment Bill in July 2008. BUSA's submission highlighted concerns around the application of the personal liability clause in the amendment bill as well as challenges with the introduction of the complex monopoly regimes. The team managed to achieve some success as the Department of Trade & Industry agreed to reword some of the provisions. It was also agreed that a three aside Nedlac task team will consider some of the drafting matters.

Social Security and Retirement Fund Reform
The BUSA position paper is being developed on the basis of work previously commissioned by BUSA constituencies. Members will be kept abreast of developments in this regard.

Expropriation Bill
The Portfolio Committee on Public Works has withdrawn the Bill from the current legislative framework due to some unresolved legal matters. It is expected that this Bill will be reintroduced sometime in 2009. The BUSA office is in the process of convening a meeting to discuss strategy and approach in dealing with the Expropriation Bill.

Companies Bill
BUSA made submissions to the portfolio committee on the companies' bill. The submissions focused on concerns around the business rescue regime – which in our view was not aligned to the existing insolvency laws. Other issues relating to terminology; and inconsistency with other legislation were raised.

Relationship between CCMA and Labour Court:
A meeting of the NEDLAC task team was held and a draft document was tabled. The issue of a Rules Board was discussed; in particular that NEDLAC should approach the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development to request that the Rules Board be convened. It should consist of representatives from the social partners and experts.

SETA Review
It was noted that there was a preliminary report on the SETA review commissioned by NEDLAC. Business raised concern around the process being followed in this respect. It was agreed that the social partners should submit input on the preliminary report and that a meeting of the task team should be called to finalise the report

BEE WATCH

ACTowers in R116m empowerment deal

AltX-listed Africa Cellular Towers (ACTowers), a manufacturer and supplier of telecoms support systems and electric transmission and distribution lines throughout the continent, has concluded a black economic empowerment deal with the Tiso Group. As per the transaction, investment group Tiso will acquire a 25.1% stake in ACTowers for a total of R116-million, with the capital being used to expand the production and installation capacity of ACTowers, for manufacturing either mobile telecommunication masts or power pylons. "We are very excited about the transaction with Tiso, as we now have a strategic black commercial partner who we believe will add real value to the company and who will, as part of the subscription, inject additional cash into the company for expansion," ACTowers CEO Chris Kruger said in a statement last week. "Most importantly, this transaction affords us the opportunity to realise the full potential of the ACTowers Power Lines division, in a sector with vast growth opportunities."

Turnkey provider
The company's power lines division has been positioning itself as a full turnkey provider of power lines in southern Africa over the past two year, and has been working with power utilities from around the region. While ACTowers had been awarded supplier status in certain regions of South Africa by Eskom in 2008, the company now believes that the partnership with Tiso will enable it to successfully tender for larger contracts, as a result of its improved BEE rating. According to the company, Eskom has embarked on major capital expenditure programmes to upgrade and expand its network of power lines, with an investment in excess of R30-billion having already been made.

Targeting home market
The company's telecoms division is also expected to benefit from the need to roll out telecoms base stations in Africa for the foreseeable future, it has also begun to target the needs of fixed-line and mobile operators in South Africa – a country not previously focused on by ACTowers. "The investment by Tiso in ACTowers will be complementary to our other investments in the infrastructure and power sectors, and we look forward to a long and fruitful working relationship with Chris Kruger and his team," said Tiso executive chairman Nkunku Sowazi. The transaction is effective as of the end of January, with the possibility of ACTowers receiving and additional payment from Tiso of up to R22.5-million if certain performance criteria are met for the financial years ending in February 2009 and 2010.

SAinfo reporter

JCSE REPORT

The Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) is a three way partnership between government, academia and industry. Based at Wits University, the JCSE is multifaceted with various programmes and facilities positioning it as a focal point of a software development industry for South Africa and the rest of the continent.

The JCSE strongly supports the City's “Joburg 2030 Vision”, which sees Johannesburg becoming a World Class city with service delivery and efficiencies that meet global best practice. It supports this goal by promoting best practice in software development within an African context; growing the country's capacity to deliver world class software; and developing research and training initiatives to strengthen the local software development industry.

This is done practically by offering various courses to industry, hosting laboratories, housing start-up companies in its pre-incubator, hosting the Gauteng SPIN (Software Process Improvement Network) and Extreme Programming (XP) forum meetings, conducting research and promoting the adoption of the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI®) process improvement model in South Africa.

JCSE goals:

  • Improving processes: Promoting international best practice in Software Engineering within an African context.
  • Promoting investment: Establishing a business friendly environment that attracts investment in the local ICT industry.
  • Supporting transformation: Aligning with the objectives of the ICT Charter, to create new leaders and to encourage the growth of SMME's in the sector.
  • Encouraging innovation: Applied research, technology incubation and IP development.
  • Building capacity and skills: Educating experts to lead Africa's software development sector.

To keep in touch with the JCSE please register for our e-newsletter by sending an e-mail to marketing@jcse.org.za What's new:

Professional Certificate in CIO Practice (April - September 2009).
The CIO should be a person with a combination of strong technical, business and leadership skills. This Multi-disciplinary Certificate in CIO Practice is aimed at people aspiring to fill the CIO role, and covers a mix of topics dealing with issues relating to technology, strategic (C-level) management, business and human capital management processes and ICT policy in regulation. The focus is to provide an integrated overview of issues and trends in all of these areas.

Registration for 2009 closes on 28 February 2009. A maximum of 30 delegates will be accepted for each course.
Register:   http://www.jcse.org.za/courses.php?itemid=8

What's on:

Wednesday 11th February 2009 : Introducing the .NET Service Bus

The .NET services bus is part of the new Microsoft Cloud Computing Windows Azure initiative. The service bus allows clients to connects to services across any machine, network, firewall, NAT, routers, load balancers, virtualization, IP and DNS as if they were part of the same local network, and doing all that without compromising on the programming model or security. The JCSE will be joining Dariel Solutions and Microsoft South Africa in hosting Juval Lowy, Microsoft's Regional Director for Silicon Valley, and one of the world's top .NET experts. Juval will present a Public Lecture on the .NET Service Bus. The event will take place in the evening at 17h30 for 18h00 in the Microsoft conference room.

NB: This event is FREE OF CHARGE

Limited space available, so register today to secure your seat!

Registration:   17:30
Time:   18:00 – 20:00
Venue:   Microsoft, Bryanston
Register:   http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032402482&Culture=en-ZA

Other registration options:
Email:   saevents@microsoft.com
Phone:   0860-225-567

  • 16-18 February Course - Intro to CMMI (Johannesburg)
  • 16-18 March Course - Intro to CMMI (Johannesburg)
  • 20-22 April Course - Intro to CMMI (Johannesburg)
  • 18-20 May Course - Intro to CMMI (Johannesburg)
  • 17-19 June Course - Intro to CMMI (Johannesburg)

This course introduces participants to the fundamental concepts of the CMMI model.

Register:   http://www.jcse.org.za/courses.php?itemid=4

ICT FUNNIES

There are two ways to write error-free programs. Only the third one works.
A computer program does what you tell it to do, not what you want it to do.
A computer's attention span is only as long as its extension cord.
A)bort, R)etry or S)elf-destruct?
A)bort, R)etry, I)gnore, V)alium?
A)bort, R)etry, I)nfluence with large hammer.
AAAAAA - American Association Against Acronym Abuse Anonymous
APATHY ERROR: Don't bother striking any key.
ASCII to ASCII, DOS to DOS.
All computers run at the same speed...with the power off.
As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error. - Weisert
Backup not found! A)bort, R)etry or P)anic?
Backup not found: A)bort, R)etry, M)assive heart failure?
Bad command or file name. Go stand in the corner.
Breakthrough: It finally booted on the first try.
C:\BELFRY is where I keep my .BAT files.
C:\GRAPHICS\GIF\NAUGHTY\FILTHY\DISGUSTING\WOW!
Close your eyes and press escape three times.
Disclaimer: Any errors in spelling, tact, or fact are transmission errors.
Famous last words: I just found the last bug.
Famous last words: This time it will surely run.
 
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CONTACT US

As a valued member of the ITA, your input is appreciated. Please send us your comments and suggestions.

Send an e-mail to the Secretariat
info@ita.org.za 		 Gabrielle Erasmus
gabi@ita.org.za 

Proudly South African is an exciting campaign to promote South African companies, products and services which are helping to create jobs and economic growth in our country

  • When choosing products and services bearing the Proudly South African logo, you have an assurance of quality. You also make a meaningful and personal contribution to building South Africa's economy and alleviating unemployment, as well as keep jobs and money in the country. Indirectly you are fighting against poverty, crime and disease, and helping the country
  • Being a member of the Proudly South African campaign also brings important benefits that boost your marketing efforts, promote your products and services in the market place, present new business opportunities, keep you in touch with other members and provide support with procurement and tendering.
  • ITA is a Proudly South African Association.
The World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) is a consortium of over 60 information technology (IT) industry associations from economies around the world. ITA is the South African representative. WITSA members represent over 90 percent of the world IT market. As the global voice of the IT industry, WITSA is dedicated to:
  • advocating policies that advance the industry's growth and development;
  • facilitating international trade and investment in IT products and services;
  • strengthening WITSA's national industry associations through the sharing of knowledge,
  • experience, and critical information;
  • providing members with a vast network of contacts in nearly every geographic region of the world;
  • hosting the World Congress on IT, the premier industry sponsored global IT event;
  • hosting the Global Public Policy Conference; and

Founded in 1978 and originally known as the World Computing Services Industry Association, WITSA has increasingly assumed an active advocacy role in international public policy issues affecting the creation of a robust global information infrastructure, including:

  • increasing competition through open markets and regulatory reform;
  • protecting intellectual property;
  • encouraging cross-industry and government cooperation to enhance information security;
  • bridging the education and skills gap
  • reducing tariff and non-tariff trade barriers to IT goods and services; and
  • safeguarding the viability and continued growth of the Internet and electronic commerce.

WITSA has a real impact on the global IT environment. It strengthens the industry at large by promoting a level playing field and by voicing the concerns of the international IT community in multilateral organizations, including the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the G-8 and other international fora where policies affecting industry interests are developed

News Hound

Implementation of national research cyberinfrastructure takes another step

http://www.meraka.org.za/events.htm

The South African National Research Network (SANReN), a major research infrastructure initiative of the Department of Science and Technology, is commencing with its national implementation phase after detailed planning and subsequent proof of concept phases.

SANReN was announced by the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, in the 2006 budget speech. It forms a key pillar of the DST-driven national cyberinfrastructure initiative together with the recently established Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC). The Meraka Institute is responsible for the implementation and management of both SANReN and the CHPC. The institute is a national research centre managed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

“These two major information and communications technology initiatives play a key role in putting South Africa on the brink of an exciting chapter in research infrastructures that enable relevant, cutting-edge science for the enhancement of our global competitiveness and quality of life,„ explains Johan Eksteen, Technology Research Programme Manager at the Meraka Institute. “We see infrastructure as an integral ingredient towards the development of a world-class science and technology landscape,” he comments.

The network design is done in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Network (TENET), key technology providers and telecommunications operators. Input is obtained from the research community, relevant metropolitan councils and provincial and national government departments. Guidance from international bodies, such as the Delivery of Advanced network Technology to Europe (DANTE) - which is responsible to the European Commission for the implementation of the pan-European research network (GeANT) - has proved to be invaluable.

The design is based on the establishment of an overall national network linking core nodes in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Each of the main centres will be provided with local ring networks. These ring networks have been designed to allow easy access to the core network by all SANReN and TENET sites as well as many potential sites. Other sites will be connected to these core sites. “In contrast to most commodity or commercial networks currently implemented, this public-good research network is based on the provision of lit fibre (lambdas or wave lengths) obtained from licensed telecommunications operators, supplemented by fibre cable installed directly by SANReN or obtained from relevant metropolitan authorities,” says Eksteen. “This approach is necessary to provide the gigabit per second and higher speeds required for research networking that is essential to empower our science community,” he says.

A small number of sites require significant fibre installations to be connected to the network; the projected completion of the national SANReN network is in 2009. “We have already commenced with Interactions with individual research institutions and these discussions will continue,” Eksteen concludes.

Contact details:
Meraka Institute
Geoff Daniell    at 012 841 2624
Christiaan Kuun    at 012 841 2876
Johan Eksteen   at 012 841 4686
CSIR Communication
Biffy van Rooyen   at 012 841 3887

Leaders 'must act swiftly on crisis'

http://www.southafrica.info/news/international/davos-020209.htm

Leaders of the G20 countries must move quickly to develop a coordinated policy response to the most serious global recession since the 1930s, Maria Ramos, co-chair of the World Economic Forum's (WEF's) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, told delegates on Sunday.

Participants at the closing plenary session of this year's WEF meeting warned that, if global business and governmental leaders failed to develop effective solutions to the current economic crisis, they faced a destructive social backlash that could foment political instability, revive protectionism and reverse the trend towards globalization.

"This is the time to see courageous leadership on the part of the G20," Ramos, group chief executive of South African state company Transnet, told delegates. "The time for words is over; this is the time for implementation and action. If we come back in six months or a year and are still talking about the same things, we will have failed. And the social unrest we will have to deal with will be absolutely dramatic."

The next G20 meeting is in London in April.

WEF participants on Sunday painted a sobering picture of a rapidly darkening economic landscape, in which the pain of rising unemployment, home foreclosures, bankruptcies and poverty were only beginning to be felt.

"When the economic malaise really begins to affect families and people don't have jobs, that will have huge political repercussions," said Moisés Naím, editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy Magazine in the US.

Policy pitfalls
Participants cited numerous signs of policy responses that were in danger of going badly off course, including protectionist measures by developed countries, such as directing fiscal stimulus funds to national producers through domestic content requirements; the withdrawal of state-supported lenders from emerging financial markets; and a reluctance to recapitalize the IMF and other multilateral lending institutions on the scale required by the crisis. Such developments posed a particular threat to the developing countries, said Ricardo Hausmann, director of Harvard University's Center for International Development. "If we are going to have a global response to the crisis, we need to give all the countries of the world the capacity for fiscal expansion," Hausmann said. In terms of remedies for the current crisis, participants urged governments and firms to do everything in their power to preserve employment and avoid mass layoffs, which would further ravage consumer and business confidence. Voluntary salary reduction and job-sharing schemes could help achieve this, while still giving firms latitude to cope with sharply declining revenues.

'Accelerate Doha Round negotiations'
Earlier, at a Saturday session of the WEF meeting, trade officials and academic experts urged G20 countries to finish the long-stalled Doha Round of multilateral trade talks, saying this was the single most valuable step global leaders could take to keep the current economic crisis from triggering a destructive protectionist backlash. Progress on trade was particularly critical now, they warned, because there was a real risk that national efforts to combat the crisis - such as support for troubled automakers, or public lending programmes that favoured local borrowers - could contribute to the alarming contraction in world trade volumes. "We see more and more signs that these protectionist measures in developed countries ... fall within some sort of ideology of economic nationalism," said Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim. "This could bring us back to the 1930s again."

By closing out the Doha negotiations and committing to shepherd an agreement through their respective national parliaments, the G20 countries could provide a concrete demonstration that their commitment to cooperation and coordination to fight the crisis is more than just an empty promise, participants said. "It would send the right signal of confidence that people have realized that this is something they need to do together as part of their reaction to the crisis," said Pascal Lamy, director-general of the World Trade Organization.

Lamy expressed optimism that the talks could be concluded quickly if the political will to do so existed. He estimated that 80% of the terms of an agreement had been settled, although highly contentious issues such as agricultural subsidies in the developed world and anti-dumping rules still needed to be resolved. All indications he had received, Lamy added, suggested that the G20 leaders were serious about their commitment to Doha.

SAinfo reporter

Budget: Manuel to 'stay the course'

http://www.southafrica.info/news/business/988703.htm

South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel will probably follow the course indicated in his medium-term budget policy statement when he presents his 2009 budget next week, Nedbank economist Nicky Weimar commented.

The budget deficit would probably widen to two percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2009/10, as predicted in the medium-term budget policy, Weimar added. Fanie Joubert of the Efficient group said he was "more optimistic" when it came to the budget deficit. "We predict a figure of 1.7 percent of GDP for the budget deficit," he said. However, he added that there was a lot of pressure on revenue and Value Added Tax revenue was particularly worrying. "The collection of VAT is being hit by the reduction in consumer expenditure," he said. Weimar said there would not be "a lot new" in Manuel's budget speech - "for instance, infrastructure spending is not new," she said.

"However, this spending will accelerate - we must be ready to host the World Cup," Weimar added.

Weimar said a case could be made for fiscal policy to be more stimulatory under the present economic circumstances. "They have the scope to do this, as we've had years of constraint. "However, I think the budget will be hesitant on the tax side and choose to stimulate on the spending side," Weimar said. She also expected changes to be made for transfer duties for property. "The housing market is bleeding," Weimar said. "We could see an increase in the value at which a home may be purchased without transfer duty, which is currently R500 000."

Joubert agreed that there could be changes to transfer duties, "but it's a small percentage of government revenue," he said. Cutting the tax rate for companies would be a wise move, Weimar said. "This would prevent further job losses - but unfortunately I don't think we're going to see a cut like this."

Joubert said cutting the tax rate for companies was on his wish-list. "Companies are already retrenching - but a tax cut would prevent more retrenchments," he said. When it came to social grants, job creation, education and Aids, Weimar said the budget's allocations would grow in line with October's medium-term budget policy statement. According to Joubert, as this was an election year, social expenditure would most certainly increase.

Sapa

South Africans hunt for bargains online

http://www.southafrica.info/business/trends/newbusiness/bidorbuy-091208.htm

Local e-commerce comparison site Jump Shopping chose bidorbuy as the best South African online auction site for the third year running in 2008. Bidorbuy attributes its success to a simple business model: make a website and allow other people to trade on it among themselves.

Established in 1999 for individuals to buy and sell their wares online, bidorbuy's registered users passed the 300 000 mark by November, a growth of 40%, while average sales have risen from about R9-million a month a year ago to about R20-million a month currently.

About 80% of transactions are concluded in the auction format, the remainder being fixed-price sales. In line with perceived international trends, the company expects an increase in fixed-price listings. "The move towards fixed-price items seems the logical next step," says bidorbuy director Andy Higgins. "After all, some people prefer to come to the site, browse, and buy. They don't want to waste time on a lengthy bidding process at the end of which they may have nothing to show for it, because someone else might outbid them and walk away with the item they wanted to buy."

Crazy Wednesday, Snap Friday
However, according to bidorbuy, their sellers do not quite see it that way: many maintain that they have a better chance of selling their merchandise, and at a higher profit, when they list them in auction format. The buyers, meanwhile, favour the auctions starting from R1 with no reserve, which have become so popular that the company has dedicated two days of the week to such auctions: Crazy Wednesday and Snap Friday.

Most of the R1, no-reserve, items on bidorbuy are in the low to medium value category, though every now and then a seller will stage a surprise and raise everything: a two-bedroom apartment in Helderkruin, in Gauteng's West Rand, closed at R390 000, having opened at R1 without reserve, while a second-hand Mercedes Benz CLK320 has also appeared on a R1 no-reserve auction. "It must be emphasised that auctions are not an efficient way of selling all goods - they do not always work well for items whose price can be anticipated in advance," Higgins says. "But auctions do excel when they are called to set the price for items of indeterminable value, for example collectibles or used items. In those cases, the auctions provide a very good dynamic pricing mechanism."

Simple formula
All in all, the bidorbuy business model boils down to a very simple formula: make a website and allow other people to trade on it among themselves, the company says. "As a company, bidorbuy has no contact with the goods traded on its site. It does not need to worry about warehouses and shipping and other complicated details." Bidorbuy also points out that its business model has shown unusual vitality in these times of the economic gloom. "Up to a point, consumer-to-consumer online sites like bidorbuy.co.za thrive on recession, because that is when people come to the site to sell in order to improve their finances and to buy bargains in order to save on their expenses."

SAinfo reporter

South Africa 'can tough out the crisis'

http://www.southafrica.info/business/economy/policies/economy-301090.htm

No country will escape the effects of the global financial crisis, with the IMF expecting the lowest growth in 60 years and the ILO projecting 50-million job losses globally, South African President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Tuesday. At the same, Motlanthe said, the government was optimistic about the country's ability to "ride out the tough period ahead". The President was addressing a dinner at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where world business and political leaders have gathered against the backdrop of an extremely gloomy global economic outlook. All countries would be affected negatively by the crisis, though to different degrees, Motlanthe said, noting that South Africa had already been affected in a number of ways. "Though our banking system escaped turmoil internally, their global operating environment has been all but decimated, with very little capital available for investment. "Close to 60% of our exports were destined for the US, EU and Japan, and the contraction of demand in those economies is going to have a direct impact on our manufacturers and the labour they employ. The decline in commodity demand and prices also has a negative impact on those sectors in South Africa."

The economy inherited from apartheid
While it would not be easy, however, South Africa had survived more difficult times than these, Motlanthe said, referring to the state of the economy inherited from the former apartheid state in 1994. This, Motlanthe reminded his audience, was "an economy in decline, with high debt and high unemployment. It was an isolated state with few diplomatic and trading partners in the world. The largest contribution to GDP came from the extraction industries, with little or no manufacturing footprint to speak of. The social condition of the country was in absolute dire straits as a consequence of apartheid policies." By contrast, Motlanthe said, the South Africa of today was an integrated and responsible member of the global community, enjoying preferential market access into traditional markets like the EU and US, but also into emerging poles of demand like India and China.

The economy today
The economy of the country had, since 1994, been transformed through fundamental macroeconomic reforms that had enabled the majority of South Africans to participate in the mainstream economy. "Today, we are debt free and over 70% of GDP is now derived from manufacturing and services. Direct mining now contributes around 6% to GDP. We have created 3-million new jobs since 2004," Motlanthe said - while admitting that the country had "a long way to go still in the area of unemployment." South Africa's social and economic recovery had been achieved through sound fiscal management, and consistent and coherent policy formulation and implementation - and the same approach "will ensure that we emerge from this global economic crisis." It was critical, however, that South Africa, and the global community, "absorb the lessons from this experience". On the domestic front, South Africa was in a "difficult but very different" position to other emerging economies, Motlanthe said.

Massive state investment
"We envisage a strong public sector investment in infrastructure projects - valued at around US$69-billion - in transport, construction, roads, ports, energy and ICT over three years to be a major stimulus to growth and development. This will be funded from the state and does not depend on borrowing. "The large investment into the 2010 Fifa World Cup for stadiums and related infrastructure is also on track and not dependent on borrowing. "We have also encouraged our development finance institutions to use their very healthy balance sheets to invest in projects where traditional credit is no longer available."

Industry support programmes
The government was working with the manufacturing sector to develop sustainable support programmes, such as the one recently introduced for the ailing automotive sector. "Though growth figures have to be revised, we are confident that we could realise 4% growth if we implement our programmes of actions properly," Motlanthe said. At the same time, South Africa remains a global leader in the resources sector, and the government's industrial policy will seek to enhance beneficiation, with special emphasis on labour-intensive sectors and on diversifying competition. "Now is a very good time to position and prepare for the upswing," the President said. "The African continent has been the least affected by the global financial crisis. The new global economic order must see Africa at the centre and not on the periphery."

New world order
In the global context, Motlanthe said, it was critical for the world community to agree on new and higher standards of global governance, particularly in the financial arena. "We need more transparency and accountability – especially due to the deeply integrated nature of the world economy today. We also need to ensure that all nations are involved in this process as the time has passed where a few nations can dictate to the many." At the same time, the President said, it would be a mistake "to retreat and become protectionist. The developing world is our best chance for recovery, and in this regard the terms of engagement between the developed and developing world needs to be revisited. The Doha development round of talks should be prioritized for conclusion on terms that are just, equitable and development oriented. "I am certain that the world economy will not be same again – even after recovery. There will be a new order, and we hope that this development is embraced constructively by the developed world."

SAinfo reporter

New law to guard intellectual property http://www.southafrica.info/about/science/ipbill-160109.htm

President Kgalema Motlanthe has signed into law the Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Financed Research Bill, which clarifies the ownership of intellectual property rights resulting from publicly funded research and development in South Africa.

The specific objective of the legislation, which was first published in the Government Gazette in December, is that intellectual property emanating from publicly financed research and development should be commercialised for the benefit of all South Africans, and be protected from appropriation.

"For this reason, the law provides for an enabling environment for intellectual property creation, protection, management and commercialisation," the Department of Science and Technology said in a statement this week.

The department says that the country's knowledge-generating institutions will now have clear guidance on how best to manage intellectual property, as well as how to ensure that publicly financed intellectual property gets out into the marketplace and is used.

"Key to this, the law is aimed at facilitating the creation of new knowledge that is derived from public funding and to secure this knowledge in the form of intellectual property rights, including, but not limited to patents, for intellectual property that could have economic and social benefits," the department says.

Support will be provided by the National Intellectual Property Management Office and the Intellectual Property Fund, as well as offices of technology transfer at the institutions.

Technology innovation
The new law is closely linked to the Technology Innovation Agency Act, which provides for the establishment of a public entity to finance individuals and other organisations commercialising their technological innovations and inventions.

The department hopes to establish the agency this year, in order to integrate the management of disparate technological innovation initiatives that are still at a developmental stage.

"All these initiatives are part of the department's larger Ten-Year Innovation Plan, aimed at driving South Africa toward a knowledge-based economy, in which the production and dissemination of knowledge leads to economic benefits," the department says.

SAinfo reporter


WITSA: Resolution for the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Hyderabad, India December 2, 2008

 

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WITSA Resolution for the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Hyderabad, India December 2, 2008

WITSA’s IGF Involvement The World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA), a consortium of national and regional IT industry associations in more than 60 countries around the world, has been an active participant at each of the annual United Nations Internet Governance Forums (IGF) from the inaugural meeting in Athens, Greece in October 2006 to the second one in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in November 2007 and now at the latest session in Hyderabad, India in December 2008.

WITSA’s IGF Views
The Internet has become an essential component of economic activity and will assume an even larger role in trade and commerce in coming years, deepening its reach; broadening its capability; embracing mobility and changing to further reflect the diversity of users and geographies that it connects.
The Internet is changing not only in access technology, but in the breadth and spread of its distribution, as well as in the applications that it is able to access and transport. Today, the Internet reaches a billion users. Our immediate challenge will be connecting the next billion users around the world in a stable, secure, and sustainable environment, and then finding ways to connect the next yet unconnected four billion users.

To date, the Internet has grown in a largely unregulated environment, and has shown an ability to thrive in a wide variety of market environments under competitive conditions. This freedom from centralized and heavy regulations has produced impressive results over a relatively short period of time, delivering innovation, productivity and opportunity to a growing numbers of users in all parts of the world. Notably, the Internet has grown fastest in markets where there is competition for the provision of underlying telecommunications facilities, as well as for access and related services. Today, policy makers at both national and global levels are considering a wide number of regulatory approaches to dealing with the challenges of cyber security, access, management of spam and malware, protection of intellectual property and other issues.

WITSA believes that the Internet must continue to thrive in an open and competitive marketplace unencumbered by unnecessary regulations.

WITSA supports private sector initiatives to develop and deliver market based solutions to the challenges faced by the Internet and its users. For example, in addition to technological approaches to improving security of information and networks, increased cooperation with law enforcement and policy makers can address many of the issues of concern to both governments and end users in cyber security. Innovations in technology delivered by the private sector are bringing affordable options in access, and combined with an enabling environment of legal, regulatory, and investment policies can further improve the availability of Internet access. Concerns of some governments seeking a more centralized regulatory oversight of the Internet and the applications it delivers through international forums can be better addressed through a deepened industry-government dialogue and collaboration on solutions that maintain the largely unregulated commercially driven environment that has supported the Internet’s initial success.

WITSA has commented on the following IGF Issues:

  • Access:   Access is vital to empowering more businesses and individuals to take advantage of the powerful resource that the Internet represents. An enabling regulatory environment at national level can do much to foster the deployment and growth of the Internet. National policies can encourage investment in capacity and growth, as well as support the local exchange of traffic including the establishment of local Internet exchange points (IXPs).
  • Openness:   Access to knowledge and empowering people with information and knowledge that is available on the Internet is a critical objective of an inclusive Information Society and to continued economic and social development.
  • Security:   Achieving its full potential to support commercial and social relationships requires an environment that promotes and ensures users' trust and confidence and provides a stable and secure platform for commerce.
  • Diversity:   Current efforts should continue to promote a multilingual Internet and local content and overcoming barriers to the development of content in different languages.
Looking Ahead
WITSA continues its involvement in the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and believes that all stakeholders should identify and focus on a set of priority issues that highlight the fundamental building blocks of an information society, including the Internet. Focusing on these priority issues will create a meaningful framework for demonstrable progress toward the long-term sustainability of a truly global information society.

The value of the IGF is its open and informative nature, allowing a variety of views to be expressed, and the full range of experience and expertise to be shared so that all can continue to learn more about how to use, grow and expand, and protect the key communications and information resource that the Internet has become. As such, the IGF should remain consistent with its mandate for facilitating a dialogue and not engaging in the negotiation of formal documents or outcomes.

WITSA supports the continuance of the multistakeholder nature of the IGF, with all stakeholders interacting on an equal basis.

WITSA also supports the importance of the IGF‘s focus on engagement with developing countries and seeking ways to encourage participants from those countries to participate in the IGF process and annual forum. Such participation is supported by continuing to ensure timely and frequent publication of useful and informative materials on the IGF website as well as enabling participation in the annual forums.

Emerging Issues at the IGF
With regard to other Emerging Issues, WITSA suggests the consideration of the following items for discussion:

  • Considering Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for the environment;
  • Importance of ensuring and leveraging innovation and creativity, including in non- traditional arenas;
  • The impact of the changes to the Internet that will be driven by the massive increase in the role of wireless and mobile users;
  • The opportunities and challenges of social networking applications; and other new and emerging innovations as applications. WITSA re-affirms its principles to ensure the Internet's further growth and continued success and calls upon all stakeholders to work together:
  • To keep the Internet open and accessible to all of society; To ensure reliable and secure access to information and communications networks and services;
  • To promote the value of the Internet Governance Forum, in particular for emerging economies and developing countries;
  • To recognize the multistakeholder nature of Internet Governance and to strengthen and broaden involvement and leadership of industry in relevant forums;
  • To promote the transition from the current Internet addressing system (IPv4) to an addressing system capable of supporting continued Internet expansion and new applications for the foreseeable future (IPv6);
  • To ensure that global public policy and governing national systems enable

THE SAVANT STORY
 

SAVANT: Taking South African ICT innovation to the world

An initiative of the South African government's Department of Trade and Industry, SAVANT is a marketing and communications programme which is geared to provide a window into the capabilities of the information and telecommunications (ICT) and electronics industries of the country. These industries have demonstrated through many successes their ability to innovate and find unique solutions to the challenges faced by business and society today – in South Africa or across the world.

Initiated in 2001, SAVANT initially set out to showcase the products and solutions that the ICT and Electronics industries in the country are capable of producing, the initiative has subsequently grown to provide a full range of resources to anyone around the world who may be interested in the sector. It is therefore also an ideal platform for these sectors to promote their products and services both to the domestic as well as international markets. SAVANT has also served to improve information sharing and dissemination between government departments. Strong links have been formed between the various government agencies, associations and academic institutions. As a result, access to current developments and available expertise within the sector is greatly accelerated.

The objective of the SAVANT programme are driven by a commitment from the DTI to support the growth of the South African ICT and Electronics sectors by providing these industries with a global voice. In so doing, it seeks to promote export opportunities and foster international trade, promote investment opportunity and establish an information portal which spans the private and public sector.

As a result, in addition to the publication of a regular newsletter which is distributed around the globe, SAVANT offers a website www.savant.co.za which serves as a complete resource for any interested person. On this site, visitors can access

  • Sub-sector research
  • Business directory
  • Tender notification
  • Newsletters
  • B@B matchmaking
  • Trade related events
  • Specialised sub-sector information

Information exchange the lifeblood of trade

It is perhaps appropriate that the ICT and electronics industries have as a core goal the more effective exchange of information. Recognising the essential role of communication to create and identify opportunities and subsequently to foster trade, the DTI leverages its Foreign Economic Representative Network which spans 36 strategic markets worldwide to achieve significant impact with SAVANT. The programme therefore serves as the mechanism through which potential partners and customers are alerted to the capability of these key South African industries. SAVANT provides a complete window into the latest on capability, innovation and development coming out of South Africa. As a result, the DTI invites you to visit the site regularly to keep abreast of all these essential industries have to offer. Access is free, while all industry sector players are encouraged to make use of this valuable marketing platform. Companies seeking to showcase their offerings can register their details and offerings on the SAVANT website, at no charge.

For further information please contact:
Nadia Nortje
Assistant Director - Electrotechnical Unit, Enterprise & Industry Development Division
Tel +27 12 394 1114
nnortje@thedti.gov.za

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eWASA Report


Corporate Social e-Waste Solution “Click Away” Green Market Recycling Fee - November 2008

Times have moved beyond “business as usual” in South Africa as companies are increasingly under pressure from the public to showcase their environmentally responsible, socially engaged and ethically committed face.

In the age of Annual Sustainability Reports and green stock markets, investors are looking closer at the company's “greater good potential” before they consider buying their shares. In addition to complying with international quality standards, Environmental Management Systems and BEE requirements, progressive RSA business leaders are now also increasingly committed to score well on their “Social Corporate Investment” (SCI) strategy card, - which is where the refurbishment, reuse and recycling potential of “e-Waste” comes in.

Traditionally, companies are bulk buyers and users of electronic equipment including computers, copy machines, printers etc. Replacement of old equipment happens frequently, yielding potentially large and, at times, even toxic streams of e-waste. However, the electronic equipment which is “outdated” for business purposes, might (after a quick upgrade and general overhaul) still be perfectly suitable to satisfy the IT requirements of a local impoverished community organisation, library or school – desperate to bridge the “digital divide”.

So - would it not be much better to rather recover the function of still workable equipment, then merely dealing with it as “waste” and crushing such waste for the recovery of the material components as done in conventional recycling?

Recover E Alliance (a registered Section 21 Non Profit Organisation and proud member of eWASA) has recognized the growing need for establishing such a “value-added” service to socially concerned SA businesses. The organisation can guarantee that suitable electronic equipment gets a “second lease of life” while real “e-waste” is recycled and disposed of in the most environmentally friendly manner. Any confidential or sensitive business data is automatically erased during the process.

Since 2007, Recover E Alliance has successfully assisted an ever increasing number of Cape Town based companies with their own e-Waste management projects, through the:

  • Collection or receiving of equipment, and the sorting of various e-waste streams.
  • Testing, refurbishment and recovery of IT equipment, domestic electronics and appliances for resale or reuse.
  • Bulk disassembly of equipment for recycling.
  • Disassembly of electronic sub assemblies for community based Waste to Art applications.
Where required, Recover E Alliance also assists the corporate user and potential donor with the identification of suitably registered organizations that qualify for receipt of equipment through donation, thereby providing
  • A full system test and refurbishment capability as a Microsoft Registered refurbisher.
  • An established sales environment for refurbished equipment.

 

 

 

 

 

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