Weekly Highlights 22 July 2022

Weekly Highlights 22 July 2022 - Issue No. 145 In this issue Dear Colleagues Hello, clean Desk As part of commemorating Mandela Month, the Road Accident Fund (RAF), led by the Corporate Social Open-Plan office etiquette Responsibility Unit, this week reached out to the communities of Tembisa in Gauteng and Polokwane in AFTER GETTING TO KNOW THE REGISTRY Limpopo. RAF employees donated their time, services, and equipment to support sustainable gardening and PROPER BUDGETING CAN SAVE YOU FROM FINANCIAL create awareness of the impact of climate change on food RUIN – HERE’S HOW security. LANGUAGE TIPS - ADJECTIVES USED WITHOUT NOUNS This year’s Mandela Day was celebrated under the theme: “Do what you can, with what you have, where Ingqanga ifile: The Bateleur is dead - Praise you are”. This is a call to each sector of the South Poem to Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 1918-2013 African community to be of service to those around them, particularly the vulnerable and the environment. RAF NELSON MANDELA MONTH COMEMMORATION The first of the Fund’s initiatives took place at Phuthanang the fun page Training Centre for the Disabled, in Tembisa on 18 July 2022 while the second event took place at Grace and Letters to the Editor Hope Special Needs School at Seshego in Polokwane on 21 July 2022. Both these events were attended by We invite our readers to share their members of the RAF’s Executive as well as Senior comments, feedback, and suggestions Managers, all of whom lent their hands in setting up the with us. Readers are encouraged to submit respective centres’ gardens and painting structures and their letters, of no more than 200 words, to buildings on the premises. [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected]. We are looking Madiba once said, “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture forward to hearing from you. of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent Editor: Thabang Mahlatsi ([email protected]) life.” RAFzins are therefore urged to also play their part Sub-editor: Tholakele Radebe ([email protected]) in securing our food supply through home or community Senior Reporter: Naziphi Mpokela ([email protected]) food gardens. If every person sets up a small garden in Editor-In-Chief: Anton Janse van Rensburg ([email protected]) their home, it can snowball into communities across the country and can also provide fresh nutritious produce for those who could not otherwise afford it. Enjoy this week’s Highlights! Kind regards Internal Communication

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AFTER GETTING TO KNOW THE REGISTRY by Vanessa Mathope On 22 April 2022 when article 10 of the “Getting to According to the dates provided when the call for ab- Know the Registry” feature was published in the stracts was issued, the due date for submission was Weekly Highlights, I said, “This is my last article of 01 April 2022 and notification of abstract acceptance the feature: Getting to Know the Registry, not my was 29 April 2022. Days went by, and I made peace last written article.” I also said, “I will continue to with the fact that my abstract did not make the cut. advocate for the registry. However, my advocacy However, on 09 May 2022 I received an email with the will now be in the form of academic articles, confer- title “ACCEPTANCE OF ABSTRACT – SASA ANNUAL ence papers and maybe even a thesis.” However, CONFERENCE 2022”. At first, I thought, “Yeah right, when that was written, it was purely wishful utter- wrong email,” until I read the entire email which ended ances. with, “We look forward to seeing you in July in Bloem- fontein at what promises to be an exciting and informa- tive conference.” I was so happy, so happy that for the first time in my life I was out of words. I am not sure whether I was so happy that I would be attending the conference, or that I had just received an email from Dr Tshepho Mosweu from the University of Botswana or that I could run into Professor Mpho Ngoepe (a giant in the Archives and Records Management fraternity). He is the best in the game so much so that every aspiring records management professional references him or we all try to play God and ask him to supervise our mas- ter’s and doctoral studies. Confession: I am also one such hopeful. I did not anticipate that any of the things that I spoke On the sidelines of the 2022 SASA Conference: Vanessa Mathope about would happen this year. What followed was that poses with University of Botswana’s Dr Tshepho Mosweu the South African Society of Archivists (SASA) then issued a call for abstracts with the theme: “Rethinking the movement to get moving: archives and records in the era of disruptions.” The abstracts had to contain sub-themes along the lines of COVID-19, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and advocacy. The latter is my favourite topic and resulted in 10 articles of the “Getting to Know the Registry” feature. I then submitted an abstract for a paper to be considered for the an- nual SASA Conference. Usually, I would have started working on my paper immediately after submitting the abstract, however, I did not think that my paper stood a chance. My reasoning was that the presenters at these kinds of conferences are often professors, PhD holders and people in academia, and being just a girl from the mailroom in Correspondence and Documents Manage- ment Services, I did not stand a chance. However, I made one resolution this year that I was not going to self-reject. So, I submitted my abstract (read here). The paper was not even of an academic nature initially when I wrote the abstract. My topic was also simple, too simple if you ask me. CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Continues to the next page 5

AFTER GETTING TO KNOW THE REGISTRY (Cont.) Hence my conference paper was titled “Roles and responsibilities while rethinking the movement to get moving: archives and records in the era of disruptions.” I have attached the approved abstract regardless for reference purposes before I start gloating about how well my presentation went. Albert Einstein once said, “A ship is always safe at shore but that’s not what it’s built for.” Therefore, as much as I was a bit more confident after doing the fea- ture, the thought of presenting to professors and doc- tors specialising in Archives and Records Management was nerve-racking. As fluent as I am, in those 20 min- utes allocated for my presentation all my intelligence went out of the window as soon as my biography was read and as expected, English “showed me flames” and left me when I needed it the most, or so I thought. Pictures don’t lie, so I’ll just let them do the rest of the talking about how the conference went. At the 2022 SASA Conference: Vanessa Mathope poses with Uni- Continues to the next page versity of South Africa’s Professor Mpho Ngoepe 6 Anyway, back to the conference paper. All presenters were talking 4IR, digital records curation, robotics in Records Management and all sorts of interesting things as far as technology is concerned. Then there was me talking paper-based records. Fhatuwani Matodzi, my fellow records management champion in the RAF, the game has left us behind! Fhatuwani is the aspiring Re- cords Management professional profiled in the Weekly Highlights as a graduate on 11 February 2022. At the SASA Conference I was talking about my experi- ence of being placed on a task team that was entrusted with ‘fixing’ Records Management practices of the organisation (the RAF). The reason I was invited to the team was that I was a master’s student specialising in Records Management and had a Records Management calling which I plan to pursue up to a doctoral level. Despite being adequately skilled in the field, I still re- ceived an email from one of my colleagues leading the task team which read, “The Regional General Manager (RGM) has negotiated a seat for you on the team.” I was more than offended by the term ‘negotiated’ but attended a few meetings regardless until I could no longer take it and excused myself from the task team. CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE

Before I forget, may I please exercise my bragging When I was reading Oprah Winfrey’s What I Know for rights and make the Records Management fraternity Sure she wrote: “The first time Tina Turner appeared jealous by telling them that I met the National Archives on my show, I wanted to run away with her, be a back- team. And let’s just say I can put a face to the one who up girl, and dance all night at her concerts. Well, that approved our “best-written file plan” as ICT bragged in dream came true one night in L.A. when The Oprah one of the RAF Annual Reports. Usually, I would have Winfrey Show went on tour with Tina. After a full day’s gone to the conference quietly, however, Fhatuwani rehearsal for just one song, I got my chance.” My Matodzi would not be assured that Records Manage- favourite part from the book reads, “It was the most ment is a profession. Hence this article. After all, Mi- nerve-racking, knee-shaking, exhilarating experience chelle Obama said in her book, Becoming, that we can ever.” Oprah also wrote, “For 5 minutes and 27 sec- accept the world as it is or, since Records Management onds I got the chance to feel what it’s like to rock on is our world, Fhatuwani, we need to “jik’ izinto” (“turn stage”. This was me at the SASA Conference meet- things around”). ing the Tina Turners of Records Management. In the words of Oprah Winfrey, “I have never been more out of my element, out of my body, I remember counting the steps in my head, trying to keep the rhythm, wait- ing for the big kick, and being so self-conscious.” I hope this article will inspire another aspiring Records Management professional to pursue this career field and reach even greater heights. Oprah Winfrey and Tina Turner 7 Vanessa Mathope is a Registration Officer based in Menlyn CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE

PROPER BUDGETING CAN SAVE YOU FROM FINANCIAL RUIN – HERE’S HOW Researched by Thabang Mahlatsi 1. Gather all your financial documents Before you start, get all your financial documents, such as your salary slips, bank statements, investment state- ments, recent water and electricity statements, credit card statements, statements for your car loan and slips for purchases together so that you can calculate your average expenses per month. 2. Calculate your income Budgeting can save you from financial collapse in Calculate your monthly income. If your monthly income the difficult financial times we live in. Everybody is is a normal salary paid monthly after tax is deducted, feeling the pinch of higher food and fuel prices and use the net amount, but if you work for yourself or also even the middle class is starting to find it difficult to have other means of income, such as maintenance afford their lifestyles. for a child, add that and write it down as your monthly income. If your income varies because you work for yourself, use the smallest amount you have earned in a month. The past few years have taught consumers various lessons and if there is one you can take away from this turbulent time, it is the importance of a budget to com- bat the continuous financial stress we have to deal with daily. A budget is a summary of your income and expenses for a month at a time. It shows you how much money you will have compared to your required expenses, such as your bond or rent and insurance, and the ex- penses you can control, such as eating out or entertain- ment. If you put your budget in writing, it becomes an instru- 3. Make a list of your monthly expenses ment you can use to plan how much you will spend and save every month and analyse your spending behav- Make a list of your monthly expenses and include these iour. Although it can make you quite depressed to draw payments: up a budget if you have little money, it is necessary to save you from financial ruin. • Bond repayments or rent • Car payments The secret of a budget is that you can use the money • Insurance you save in one category to top up another category or • Groceries save or invest it.The important thing to remember is that • Payments for water and electricity your budget will only work if you are honest about your • Transport costs, such as fuel, bus tickets or taxi income and expenses. fare Six easy steps to draw up a budget • Child care expenses, such as school fees, after- Do not compile your budget on a scrap of paper and care, and extra-mural activities rather use a book or a computer programme such as • Personal loan payments, such as study loans Excel or an app. • Savings • Personal care, such as going to the hairdresser CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE • Entertainment • Eating out Continues to the next page 8

PROPER BUDGETING CAN SAVE YOU FROM FINANCIAL RUIN – HERE’S HOW (CONT.) 4. Determine your set and variable expenses your variable payments. Find categories where you can Set payments are compulsory payments that usu- spend less, such as eating out less or scrap catego- ally stay the same, that you have to pay every month, ries such as paying for the gym and rather exercise at such as your bond or rent, car loan, internet, water and home. electricity or school fees. Also, add any other monthly payments that stay the same. If the gap between your expenses and income is very Variable expenses change from month to month, such big or if you have a lot of debt, it will probably not help as groceries, fuel, entertainment, and gifts. Also, add much to change your variable expenses. You would a category for emergency expenses that can happen then probably have to cut the set expenses or increase quickly and wreak havoc with your budget. your income to ensure your budget balances. Calculate how much you spend monthly on each cat- egory and use your documents to confirm the figure. Using your budget 5. Calculate the total for your monthly income and Once you have drawn up your budget, you have to expenses watch it every month to ensure you stick to it. Keep a If your income is more than your expenses, it is a good record of what you spend money on to ensure you do place to start. You can use the extra money to pay off not spend too much. If you are an impulsive buyer, it is your debts faster or you can save it. a good idea to put the money in different envelopes. If You can also use the budget formula of “50-30-20” the envelope is empty in the middle of the month, you which requires that expenses that you cannot do with- have to stop spending on that category or use money out, should make up 50% of your budget. Expenses on from another where you have to cut your spending other categories must make up 30% and your savings then. and debt payments 20%. However, if your expenses are more than your income, Your goal must be to spend less than you earn. which is often the case now, it means you spend too much and have to cut back on your expenses. Keep working on your budget 6. Change your expenses When your expenses exceed your income, you have Review your budget as your circumstances change, to find places in your budget where you can change such as having a baby or moving house. If you do this regularly, it will become easier to balance your budget CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE and save. Remember: your budget must work for you. You must not work for your budget. Thabang Mahlatsi is a Specialist: Internal 9 Communication, based in Eco Glades

LANGUAGE TIPS - ADJECTIVES USED WITHOUT NOUNS Researched by Tholakele Radebe dressed. OR Blind people’s problems should be prop- erly addressed. (NOT The blind’s problems should be properly addressed.) In a few fixed phrases, the + adjective can have a singular meaning. Examples include: the accused, the former, the latter, the deceased etc. • The accused was released on bail. Note that plural meanings are also possible. Following last week’s language tip on compound Abstract ideas adjectives, this week we look at adjectives in a class of their own, those used without nouns. As An adjective can be used after the to refer to some we know, we cannot usually leave out a noun after abstract quality or idea. an adjective. She doesn’t believe in the supernatural. Please see the examples below: Poor little boy! (NOT Poor little!) Adjectives of nationality The most important thing is to be happy (NOT The most important is to be happy.) Some adjectives of nationality ending in -sh or -ch can be used after the without nouns. These adjectives But there are some exceptions. include Irish, Welsh, English, British, Spanish, French etc. To refer to some well-known groups of people The Irish are proud of their sense of humour. The structure the + adjective is used to talk about some well-known groups of people. Examples are: the Note that the expressions the Irish, the English etc., blind, the deaf, the unemployed, the rich, the poor, the are plural. The singular equivalents are for example an young, the old, the dead etc. Irishman or an Englishwoman. • He is collecting money for the blind. (= He is col- lecting money for blind people.) Choices • Blessed are the meek. We sometimes leave out a noun that has already been • The government should do something for the mentioned, or which does not need to be mentioned, when thinking about a choice between two or more dif- poor. ferent kinds of thing. Note that these expressions are always plural. The blind means all blind people. Similarly, the dead Have you got any bread? – Do you want white or means all dead people. Adjectives are not normally brown? used in this way without the. Blessed are the meek. (NOT Blessed are meek.) I’d like two large packets and one small. These expressions cannot be used with a possessive Superlatives ‘s. Nouns are often left out after superlative adjectives. The problems of the blind should be properly ad- I’m the tallest in my family CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE We bought the cheapest. Source: https://www.englishgrammar.org/adjectives-nouns/ Tholakele Radebe is a Copy Editor based in Eco Glades 10

Ingqanga ifile: The Bateleur is dead – Praise Poem to Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 1918-2013 by Celimpilo Dladla 18 July has been declared Nelson Mandela English: The Bateleur is dead International Day, but as South Africans we embrace the chance to celebrate Nelson Man- He was born with his destiny written for him dela’s life for the whole of July. It is for this rea- Though his boyhood was humble son that the RAF Language Unit has chosen to He became a great statesman use a poem by Patricia Schonstein, written in He walked like a king yet was modest IsiXhosa and English languages, to commemo- He was once an armed warrior rate the great legacy of this great icon. After But he put down his weapons all, it is Madiba who once said: “If you talk to a And became an icon of peace man in a language he understands, that goes to He was a spokesman for the oppressed his head. If you talk to him in his language, that And for the banished goes to his heart.” Enjoy!! He broke the chains of apartheid He taught us reconciliation He embraced his enemies He had no hatred for those who imprisoned him In his flight path we follow The wings of a majestic bird remind us of a great man Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela! Bateleur! Hail Madiba! We honour you! IsiXhosa: Ingqanga ifile Yazalwa sekusaziwa ukuba iyakuphelela phi na Shimnottgaupqnrsacd:/ene/w:glaaw--1wif9i.lt1eim8-t-he2es0-l1ibv3ae/t.ecloe.uzra-/iss-udnedaady--ptirmaiesse/-bpoooekms/-ntoe-wnes/ls2o0n1-9r-o0li1h-l1a0h-la- Nangona umzimba wayo wawuthozamile Celimpilo DladlbaaisseadSinpeEccioaliGstl:aNdegsuni Languages, Yaba yingangamsha esebenzela ilizwe 11 Yayihamba njengekumkani kodwa inentobeko Yakha yaligorha elixhobileyo Kodwa yazibeka phantsi izigalo Yaza yangumfuziselo woxolo Yayingumthetheleli wabo bacinzelekileyo Nabo babefumene uphum’ aphele Yawaqhawula amakhamandela ocalucalulo Yasifundisa ngoxolelwano Yazamkela iintshaba zayo Ayizange ibenekratshi kwabo babeyivalele ento- longweni Silandela ekhondweni layo Iimpiko zentaka enobuqaqawuli zisikhumbuza ngendoda yamadoda Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela! Ngqanga! Siyakubhotisa Madiba! Siyakuhlonipha! CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE

RAF Nelson Mandela day Commemoration by Corporate Social Responsibility Venue: Phuthanang Training Centre for the Disabled, Tembisa, Gauteng Date: 18 July 2022 CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE 12

RAF Nelson Mandela day Commemoration by Corporate Social Responsibility Venue: Grace and Hope Special Needs School, Seshego, Polokwane, Limpopo Date: 21 July 2022 CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE 13

THE FUN PAGE With the shocking rise in fuel prices, today we take a humorous look at the funny side of buying petrol. Enjoy! When Fuel Prices Cost Unleaded....on the rocks An Arm and a Leg It’s the latest in car pools ever since the fuel hike. 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: [email protected]