Weekly Highlights 18 February 2022

Weekly RAF Highlights AAWNANRUDASL 18 February 2022 - Issue No. 123 Dear Colleagues Well Done RAF It’s another exciting week at the Road Accident Fund Awards (RAF)! The long-awaited RAF Annual Awards are Nominees! here at last. It is time for RAFzins to find out how their nominees did in the tough competition that started In this issue some time ago. The nominees themselves must have been so anxious for the big moment to arrive. INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY CELEBRATION We will get to know the winners in the following TRUAMA DID YOU KNOW? categories: Best Male Employee, Best Female Employee, Best Manager and Best Innovation. The GETTING TO KNOW THE REGISTRY: ARTICLE 2 awards ceremonies are held in each region starting from this week until the end of next week. The first Overcoming the Victim Mentality ceremony was in Cape Town on 15 February 2022, and Values Entrenchment Drive: Profiling Our this will continue until the last event in Eco Glades on Ethics Ambassadors 25 February 2022. Covid-19 Statistics the fun page We wish to congratulate all the winners for their hard work, dedication, sacrifice and giving their Letters to the Editor best performance to take the Fund and its mandate forward. It is at times like these that one gets to enjoy We invite our readers to share their the fruits of one’s labour. “If a man is called to be a comments, feedback, and suggestions street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as with us. Readers are encouraged to submit Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven played music, or their letters, of no more than 200 words, to Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so Thabang@raf.co.za and TholakeleR@raf. well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to co.za. We are looking forward to hearing from say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job you. well.” − Martin Luther King, Jr. Editor: Thabang Mahlatsi (thabang@raf.co.za) To the other nominees: being nominated on its own Sub-editor (Acting Editor): Tholakele Radebe(tholakeler@raf.co.za) indicates that your hard work is recognised in the Editor-In-Chief: Anton Janse van Rensburg (antonj@raf.co.za) organisation. You might not have won an award this time around, but you are recognised and congratulated for making it that far. You are winners in your own right. The Knowledge Management Unit has been hard at work organising the awards ceremonies from the very beginning at nomination stage until their culmination as we are seeing it happen from this week. The nominators, nominees, evaluation committee and everyone else who was involved did a good job to make the awards ceremonies a success and we sincerely thank all of them. In the upcoming editions of the Highlights, we’ll bring you an exciting feature on the awards ceremonies and the winners in the regions. Enjoy this week’s Highlights! Kind regards Internal Communication

INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY CELEBRATION by Maurice Hlangwani UNESCO’S International Mother Language Day on The isiXhosa-speaking people are not just paying lip service, Monday, 21 February 2021, is a day to promote linguistic but also walk the talk. This assertion was again evident and cultural diversity and multilingualism. This year’s when Hleze Kunju was conferred a PhD that he wrote in theme is: “Using technology for multilingual learning: isiXhosa. Kunju’s thesis and the judgement of Mandisa Maya Challenges and Opportunities.” This is a powerful (President of the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa) reminder to our linguistic communities at the Fund that are an exemplar of how one can work in every field in any our diversity and multilingualism should be celebrated language. Further to this, the University of Cape Town (UCT) as essentials for sustainable development of the human and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Language species. Policies introduced bilingual education to non-isiXhosa- and non-isiZulu-speaking first-year students in their medical UNESCO is again drumming up support for the use of schools respectively. The same can be said about the mother languages in all spheres of our lives. Dedicating the Stellenbosch University Language Policy which incorporated entire decade from 2022 to 2032 to indigenous languages isiXhosa alongside English and Afrikaans. shows the seriousness with which the world body is treating the language matter. This call is specifically directed to In order to embed the importance of African languages parents who are the decision-makers in terms of the among South Africans, three European universities (Trinity languages they choose for their children at school both as College Dublin, the University of Groningen and the their first language and as their additional language. University of Salamanca) have partnered with four South African universities (UKZN, North-West University, the The observation made by UNESCO is an indictment not University of the Western Cape and Rhodes University). only on the parents who tend to speak English to their Their joint project is known as Boosting the Use of African children in the home, but also on the communities who compete in moving their children from township schools to former Model C schools and Curros of this world. UNESCO encourages families and communities to become centres in which the mother language becomes an everyday language of communication, thus giving oral language priority over written language. Some drawbacks in the promotion of the indigenous languages are occasioned by some parents who continue to attach low value and esteem to these languages even as calls are being made to promote their use in high status functions (Yu, 2015: 61). In the just-ended interviews for the new Chief Justice in the country, the question on the language issue within the judiciary was asked of all the four candidates. Of the four, three promised to give it some consideration when appointed. Only one answered by giving a more practical and realistic response by providing one of her many judgements that was written in isiXhosa to show how feasible it is to do business, practise medicine, and law in an African language. CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Continues to the next page... 2

Languages in Higher Education: A Qualified Organised Nationwide Development Strategy for South Africa (BAQONDE). This is to ensure that the teaching model of infusing African languages in Higher Education does not fail. Yu (2015) agrees that the infusion of the mother language in the education of a child is a step in the right direction. Yu portrayed a successful Hawaiian immersion programme in which children in both primary and secondary school spoke Hawaiian only. Parents pressured the government to provide resources for the programme. At some points when the results were compared, the children who went through the programme were found to achieve equal and sometimes better results than the children enrolled in English-only schools. In conclusion, as the Decade of Indigenous Languages unfolds, let us continue to see value in our mother languages. Let us put pressure on our government to channel resources towards these languages. Let us use these languages in our families and in our prayers and rituals. Let us treasure them, for they are the languages of our ancestors. Sources: Sources: Yu, K. 2015. Community support – the missing link in indigenous language promotion in South Africa? Per Linguam: A Journal of Language Learning, 31(1):60-73. Mkhize, D. & Balfour, R. 2017. Language rights in education in South Africa. South African Journal of Higher Education, 31(6), 133-150 CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Maurice Hlangwani is a Specialist:Xitsonga 3 Language, based in Eco Glades

by RAF Employee Wellness Service and ICAS

GETTING TO KNOW THE REGISTRY: ARTICLE 2 by Vanessa Mathope democracy in South Africa. This chapter is relevant to the feature because it enshrines the rights of all people in the country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality, and freedom (Constitution Act No 108 of 1996). Section 32(1)(a) and (b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996) states that South Africa is a democratic country where citizens are entitled to know what goes on in governmental bodies. Records that are created as a result of these organisations’ business processes communicate to the public what governmental bodies do, which institutions governmental bodies and constituents deal with, how they conduct business, and why they make certain decisions (NARSSA 2007: ii). Page 1 of the National Archives and Records Service The Constitution acknowledges records management and of South Africa’s (NARRSA’s) Policy Manual of 2007 its significance in all business operations of governmental communicates that “sound records management bodies by emphasising the provision of timely, accessible, is fundamental for good governance, and effective and accurate information. Ideally, all activities that occur and efficient administration. It forms the basis for in these organisations should be recorded in accordance formulating policy, managing resources, and delivering with Section 33 the Constitution (Act No 108 of 1996) which services to the public. Records management forms requires the administrative actions of governmental bodies the basis for all other business processes and also to be just. Whether someone is applying for an identity provides the basis for accountability and protecting the document through the Department of Home Affairs (DoH), or rights of individuals”. A notion echoed by the RAF’s a social grant from the South African Social Security Agency Records Management Policy (RAF 2021:5). This is (SASSA), motor vehicle accident compensation from the also enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Road Accident Fund (RAF) or any form of service from the South Africa which states that records management government, records are created or received as proof of for business operations of governmental bodies is the activity that occurred. This demonstrates that records mandatory and not optional. The Constitution is a management forms the basis for all other business processes document that communicates the basic principles and laws of a nation, state, or social group that Continues to the next page... 5 determine the powers and duties of the government and guarantees certain rights to the people in it. The Constitution (Act No 108 of 1996) has 14 chapters containing 244 sections, and eight schedules. This legislation is the supreme law of the country as it provides the legal foundation for the existence of the Republic, sets out the rights and duties of its citizens, and defines the structure of the Government. This law is significant to this feature because it advocates for the public in that it sets out the values which governmental bodies are expected to uphold and the rights of the people. This feature is particularly focussed on Chapter 2 of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, which is the cornerstone of CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE

because in every governmental body, regardless of their said that the RAF subcribes to the King Report on Corporate mandate, records are received and created throughout these Governance. The King Report on Corporate Governance institutions’ operations. So, if the rules are this simple where for South Africa is an informative booklet which contains is the problem? You may ask. guidelines for the governance structures and operation of organisations in South Africa. It has been published five NARSSA (2007:1) also reveals that records are the output of times since 1994. The purpose of this report is to ensure the business and administrative processes of a governmental that corporate governance is understood and adhered to body. In other words, the final proof that a business or in South African institutions by providing the terms and administrative process took place. This means that they conditions which these organisations should follow to ensure serve as essential proof of the business that was conducted that there is compliance with the laws of this country. This and should remain unaltered over time for as long as they report is relevant to the feature because it also addresses are needed. As evidence of official business, records have issues of records management and the importance of ongoing use as a means of management, accountability, managing records adequately. The King Report on Corporate operational continuity, legal evidence and disaster recovery. Governance in South Africa has revealed that there is a They also form the memory of the institution that created relationship between good governance, compliance with the them, and by extension, they are part of society’s memory laws and information management (Institute of Directors in and its broader cultural heritage. In some cases, records also Southern Africa [IoDSA]). have a bearing on the rights of citizens. An institution’s ability to function efficiently and give account of its actions could be Below is a depiction of a “high level business model” negatively affected if sound records management principles according to the annual reports I’ve gone through. are not applied. The need for the effective management of records is enhanced by the Public Finance Management Act, 1999, the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000, the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000, and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2000. In terms of these Acts, governmental bodies have an obligation to manage their records properly, to provide access to the information contained in the records, provide reasons for administrative decisions and to ensure the authenticity of records. All this insightful information is found on the first page of the NARSSA Policy Manual, so there is really no saying that we missed it. Correspondence and Document Management Services has been entrusted with ensuring the proper creation, maintenance, use and disposal of records throughout their life cycle. This is aimed at achieving efficient, transparent and accountable governance in the regional office and therefore Correspondence and Document Management Services bears the records management responsibility, even though most of us lack this awareness (NARSSA 2007:1). According to all the annual reports that I reviewed, it was Continues to the next page... CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE 6

In the previous article, I confidently claimed that the RAF was in the RAF. Again, in my world. However, I am a bit happy a record-driven institution without providing any evidence. with the revelations made by the RAF through their annual Based on the above business model, the organisation reports over the years. As established from various annual operates on a fault-based system. This means that in its reports, the operations of the RAF are still largely paper- operations, the RAF receives high volumes of paper-based based (RAF 2019:143-149; 2018:123-128; 2017:124-127). records from stakeholders as proof of injuries or loss of life This means that even though the organisation constantly (RAF 2019:143-149; 2018:123-128; 2017:124-127). Yes, seeks ways to move to an electronic environment (RAF there is no mention of Correspondence and Document 2019:143-149; 2018:123-128), the registry is the STAR, Management Services in the business model. That is because the institution is still currently paper-based. Not because it is assumed that the process starts with the my opinion though, according to these annual reports, registration of a claim, which is not entirely untrue. NARSSA the organisation uses technology to process claims, store (2007:4), ISO 15489-1 (2016:2) and the RAF’s Records and protect information related to motor vehicle accident Management Policy (RAF 2021:4) define a record as claims (RAF 2019:143-149). However, paper-based documented information created, received, and maintained records are still used and considered authoritative because as evidence and as an asset by an organisation in pursuit the organisation is not completely automated. Anyway, of legal obligations or business transactions irrespective according to the RAF’s annual reports, the Information and of the form of its existence. In the RAF, registering claims Communication Technology (ICT) Department has facilitated creates records. Upon registration, the documents receive the organisation’s automation process, including records a claim number and link number, used as unique identifiers management processes (RAF 2019:143-149; 2018:123-128; for organisational records. Correspondence and Document 2017:124-127). Management Services deals with documents prior to claims registration, maintains records after registration and manages Correspondence and Document Management Services, correspondence throughout the claims processes depicted which performs records management functions in the RAF’s in the business model. Based on this fault-based business regional offices, relies on ICT to procure record-keeping model, records management does not form part of the RAF’s infrastructure and service the equipment on its behalf processes, it drives the whole claims administration because (RAF 2019:147-149). Please bear in mind that NARSSA without records, fault cannot be established. revealed that, “good records management” is a product of a collaborative effort between all employees of an organisation. In my world, the registry is the most important business unit Even though Correspondence and Document Management Services does not form part of the ICT Department in the CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Continues to the next page... 7

Pretoria Regional office, ICT still provides this unit with as Information Technology (IT) Governance, Information technical support and enables it to adopt and implement Security, Information Communications and Technology ICT resources for record-keeping because good records (ICT) Service Continuity, Information Communications management is a product of collaborative efforts between all and Technology (ICT) Risk Management and Records of us (RAF 2019:123-128) Management in Head Office (Road Accident Fund Intranet 2020). At this moment I would like to draw your attention to the “RAF E-enablement Plan” which, according to the annual Looking at Correspondence and Document Management reports, the RAF’s ICT Department had embarked on. Services employees who push trolleys and retrieve files According to these reports it was a five-year ICT strategy at Central Archiving Facilities (CAFS) makes it difficult known as the “RAF E-enablement Plan,” aimed at to believe that they are professionals or information implementing a system to ease challenges faced by the management specialists. Most of us make those assumptions organisation when processing claims because of the paper- based on the nature of their work which looks like it is hard based environment in which the institution operates (RAF labour, and it is difficult for them do to it while wearing suits, 2016:124). According to other annual reports, the RAF has ties, or heels. Therefore, we write them off and we do not see always sought a system that could incorporate all business how they could be graduates and hold bachelor’s degrees processes (RAF 2019:143-149; 2018:123-128; 2016:124- in Information Science or Archival Studies. It is difficult to 127). Again, not my words, this is purely cut and paste from see someone who pushes a trolley to provide you with the the annual reports because I do not hold any qualifications most vital assets that enable you to perform your duties as a in ICT, I’ll cut and paste information relating to my speciality: skilled graduate in anything. That is because we have been records management and the registry. According to these made to believe that “skilled professionals” must be behind a annual reports, the RAF adopted the use of Enterprise desk, dress in a certain way and speak English that nobody Content Management (ECM). can make sense of, which is a very wrong approach. However, today I am overjoyed, even though I was not telling Records management is a profession with some scholars you what you wanted to hear, and you may still believe that who specialise in electronic records management. I am over-ambitious. That is okay. When I started writing, I Fortunately for us, many governmental bodies, including didn’t think that a lot of people would read my articles but the Office of the President of the Republic of South Africa on the Monday morning after the first article was published, (RSA), and the Office of the Premier of the Eastern Cape, I received an email from Kgomotso Mmekwa, our Senior have adopted technology for record-keeping. Kwatsha Librarian. He said, “Vanessa, you are doing us (Information (2010) and Munetsi (2011), who studied these institutions, Management Specialists) proud.” I was beaming with joy revealed that although technology was adopted for resolving because Kgomotso was my mentor during my undergraduate service delivery issues, it did not yield the envisaged results. days. When I could not find information sources, he would Instead, the record-keeping systems implemented in these find them for me. So, getting a nod from him means a lot to bodies resulted in more problems than anticipated solutions me. because the records management professionals who were expected to use them were excluded from the process of As if Kgomotso’s endorsement was not enough, in last acquiring these technological resources. As a result, they Friday’s issue of the Weekly Highlights the graduate were not in alignment with the NARSSA requirements or celebrated, Fhatuwani Matodzi, made a request to be profiled employees were not warming up to the idea of technology in the Highlights after reading this feature in our 04 February because they thought it was there to replace them (Kwatsha 2022 edition of the newsletter. I believe the exact wording 2010; Munetsi 2011). was, “He was greatly encouraged by our new feature on Records Management, and he is convinced that his story Before you start thinking that I am anti-technology, I am can be motivational and inspirational to other RAFZINS”. the opposite. I will choose technology any day. However, The cherry on top for me was when he said,“I, Fhatuwani technology should make my work easy. What I am trying Matodzi, am an aspirant Records Management professional to say is even though I am not an ICT expert, when I saw in the RAF…” the abbreviation ECM in the annual reports, I could relate because it was something I had read about even though It is one thing for Kgomotso to say, “Well done, Vanessa!” it was in the context of records management. So, please but receiving the ‘nod’ from my fellow records management include us in important discussions to use technology for community… I HIT THE JACKPOT! record-keeping and not impose systems on us that make our record-keeping function harder than it already is. Sources: references used in this article is available on request. The list of CLOSING REMARKS When I sent my proposal to the Weekly Highlights team to Vanessa MatbhaospeedisinaMReengliysntration Officer 8 do this feature, I just wanted to create awareness really. I wanted everyone in the organisation to acknowledge the registry (Correspondence and Document Management Services). I wanted to emphasise that records management is a profession, like all other various professions that are recognised in the RAF and respected. Records management employees are specialists in their fields such CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE

Overcoming the Victim Mentality by Thembeka Pamente What is the Victim Mentality? Now that we know our habits do influence our lives, what habits can one practise on a daily basis to avoid It is a feeling of helplessness, a sense of not having powerlessness and empower oneself? agency and control over your own life and career. Generally, how we feel and perform as human beings Empowering Habits and Routines in our private lives significantly affects our work life for better or worse. Here are some of the habits and routines we can practise for self-empowerment: Even when we are in unfavourable social and working environments, do we still perhaps have some degree 1. Responsibility of control over our lives? Is it possible to a certain level that we can influence the results we desire? Do our Firstly, one needs to be a responsible person. Power habits and routines influence our health, performance, and responsibility go together. You can’t exercise power finances, relationships, etc.? Certainly! if you don’t accept responsibility because it is out of balance to do that. The degree to which you can accept We can certainly improve and maintain our health responsibility is the degree to which you can have when we drink water or eat vegetables every day. We power. can also read a book a week to influence our thinking and empower our minds to increase our performance. 2. Strengths The list is long. Identify and list your own traits or skills. The ability to Habits and Routines know what you are good at boosts your willpower. Traits like the ability to talk, to be creative, to listen, to lead, to Habits and routines are those actions which we be collaborative, etc., are of great importance to know consistently engage in, consciously and unconsciously and practise. in our daily lives. 3. Consistency At the core of feeling like a victim is a strong feeling of powerlessness. Consistency builds one’s own mental muscle. The more you practise being responsible and dwelling more on Gaining a sense of willpower through habits and rituals your skills and strengths, the more you will believe in is the beginning of overcoming levels of the victim yourself as a person, which will eventually make you mindset. feel like a capable human being. 4. Self-care How is self-care relevant to being an empowered human being? Our human instinct tells us to look after and protect possessions we deem important to us. For example, we ensure our cars and our houses are safe. The same applies to ourselves, how we treat ourselves is indicative of self-value and self-importance. We don’t normally accept treatment below the one we offer ourselves. CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Thembeka Pamente is a Corporate Investigator 9 based in Eco Glades

Values Entrenchment Drive: Profiling Our Ethics Ambassadors by Letticia Pinkoane Core Values are the fundamental beliefs of an Answer 2. I think employees do not get the message; organisation. The RAF Values Entrenchment Drive people barely read emails if they feel they are not rel- is aimed at providing guiding principles that out- evant to them. Maybe they should be communicated in line the expected organisational behaviour that the form of a video, at the beginning of each week, as can assist employees to understand the difference you log on to your PC. It should be the first thing you between right and wrong. The current RAF Values see on a Monday morning to get you started for the determine the path and direction to be followed new week ahead. (This would make things more excit- when implementing the approved Strategic Plan ing.) and Annual Performance Plan. Question 3. Generally, how do you see the Values Ethics Ambassadors are appointed to ensure the being received and adopted within the organisation adoption of these Values and to increase participation and by your peers? at peer and organisational level. Some of them are profiled below for us to get to know them better and Answer 3. I feel it’s a slow transition to the new Values to explore their perceptions on RAF Values and their and most people are still stuck on the old Values. I feel adoption by RAF employees in general. most people in the organisation don’t even know what the new Values are all about. Lets get to know some our Ethics Ambassadors better: Question 4. Which behaviours are important and required in your role to support others to live up to Mamahlobega Welhemina Mojapelo the RAF Values? Claims Officer in Polokwane Answer 4. It all starts with respect, something we were Question 1. How do the RAF Values motivate you taught from home as we grew up. If you treat others when conducting your day-to-day activities and with respect, you get respect in return. Always put engaging with claimants and/or colleagues.? yourself in someone else’s shoes, then you’ll see life in a different perspective. Answer: 1. They motivate me to be always ethical, even when no one is watching. To treat our colleagues Question 5. Do you see your colleagues’ behaviour and especially our claimants with the utmost respect. changing towards adopting and living the Values? Question 2. The RAF Values have been communi- Answer 5. Not at all, I feel my colleagues do not take cated on a regular and frequent basis; do you think the Values seriously, and consequently they do not that employees do get the message, and if not, take ethics seriously, e.g., after several reminders to what do you think can be done better? complete the DOI forms, some colleagues have not yet done it. Continues to the next page... 10 CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE

Values Entrenchment Drive: Profiling Our Ethics Ambassadors (Cont.) Question 3. Generally, how do you see the Values being received and adopted within the organisation and by your peers? Answer 3. I see them in people around the organisa- tion. The interactions between all stakeholders reflect this. I have never experienced anyone who conducts themselves in any manner that contradicts our organ- isational Values. Question 4. Which behaviours are important and required in your role to support others to live up to the RAF Values? Answer 4. It is most important to be vocal about the Values and engage with colleagues about them, which helps and supports everyone to always remember how to carry themselves. Question 5. Do you see your colleagues’ behaviour changing towards adopting and living the Values? Answer 5. Yes, every employee of the RAF holds the Values in very high regard. Aphiwe Katjwa Correspondence Admin Assistant in Menlyn Question 1. How do the RAF Values motivate you when conducting your day-to-day activities and engaging with claimants and/or colleagues? Answer 1. Living the RAF Values helps me as an indi- vidual to execute my day-to-day activities in an honest and transparent manner. The Values are not hard to follow because they are basic guidelines on everyday conduct for employees. The Values motivate me to acquire fast implementation skills and value the impor- tance of time and deadlines. Question 2. The RAF Values have been communi- cated on a regular and frequent basis; do you think that employees do get the message, and if not, what do you think can be done better? Answer 2. Yes, employees do get the message. This is evident in the way they carry themselves and how they respect the workplace. CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE LetMticaianaPginekmoeanntebiassaedMiannEacgoerG: Clahdaensge 11



THE FUN PAGE This week we look at the funny side of employee awards. We hope you enjoy it. NOTE TO READERS: What kind of content would you like to see on this page in future editions? We would love to hear from you! Kindly send your suggestions to: internalcommunique@raf.co.za