Weekly Highlights 01 July 2022

Weekly Highlights 01 July 2022 - Issue No. 142 In this issue Dear Colleagues LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT UNIT REACHES OUT TO In July, the world celebrates former President Nelson GAUTENG YOUTH THROUGH CAREER EXPO Mandela’s birthday. 18 July has been declared Nelson Mandela International Day, but as South Africans we NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES embrace the chance to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s life for the whole of July. This gives everyone the Social Media Day 2022 opportunity to heed the call to action for people to recognise their individual power to make an imprint and TAX SEASON IS OPEN change the world around them. LANGUAGE TIPS – Using Articles (A, An, The) Be- The global theme for 2022 is: “Do what you can, with fore Acronyms and Initialisms what you have, wherever you are.” The context, of course, is a world in which inequality continues the fun page to grow and in which the destructive impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed existing disparities Letters to the Editor and damaged vulnerable communities in all kinds of ways. The call to action is as broad and as inclusive We invite our readers to share their as possible – identify those in need around you and do comments, feedback, and suggestions what you can to make a difference for them. with us. Readers are encouraged to submit their letters, of no more than 200 words, to A global movement for positive change begins [email protected], [email protected] with small actions. As each person acts, they fuel and [email protected]. We are looking momentum toward positive change, raising awareness forward to hearing from you. and expanding the reach of Mr Mandela’s values – fighting injustice, helping people in need and practising Editor: Thabang Mahlatsi ([email protected]) reconciliation. Sub-editor: Tholakele Radebe ([email protected]) Senior Reporter: Naziphi Mpokela ([email protected]) We call on all RAFzins to contribute to the social and Editor-In-Chief: Anton Janse van Rensburg ([email protected]) economic security of Africans, by living the values of our Constitution that provide for the rights of all people living in our country and which affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom for all. RAFzins, what are you doing to make every day a Mandela Day? Enjoy this week’s Highlights! Kind regards Internal Communication

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT UNIT REACHES OUT TO GAUTENG YOUTH THROUGH CAREER EXPO by Thato Tshikomb A captivated audience attending the Youth Day Career Expo held at the Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand On Wednesday, 15 June 2022, the Road Accident The initiative is in line with the National Skills Develop- Fund’s (RAF’s) Learning and Development (L and ment Plan (NSDP) which seeks to ensure that South D) Unit participated in the Gauteng Department Africa has adequate, appropriate and high-quality skills of Transport’s Career Expo, held at the Gallagher that contribute towards economic growth, employment Convention Centre in Midrand. It was the Transport creation and social development. One of the Outcomes Department’s educational initiative to support the of the NSDP is to support career development services. province-wide Youth Month celebrations and activi- According to the NSDP 2030, “Our entire skills devel- ties and served as an opportunity to showcase to opment system must dedicate the required resources the youth transport-related career opportunities. to support career and vocational guidance as this has proved to be critical in successful skills development For the RAF, career expos are one of the ways in which initiatives worldwide. it reaches out to young learners and graduates to edu- cate them on various career choices and youth devel- Career development services, therefore, do not just aim opment opportunities within the Fund and our primary to provide quality career and study-related information role as an organisation. and counselling services, but also contribute to the larg- er goal of assisting our people to ‘embrace’ and ‘fulfil their potential’. One of the most important milestones in someone’s life is to make a career choice. The decision someone makes will have a significant impact on the rest of his or her personal and professional life. There has been limited emphasis, particularly at school level, on career and vocational guidance for our youth. The result is that young people may opt for a programme because it is marketed well or there is financial aid available to enrol for it. There is a lack of guidance to direct young people to programmes for which they have an aptitude, and which will provide training in areas needed in the economy.” CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Continues to the next page 2

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT UNIT REACHES OUT TO GAUTENG YOUTH THROUGH CAREER EXPO (Cont.) Attendees asked questions and seemed excited to have been part of the event. Some of the youth visited our exhibition stand and those who were interactive were rewarded with branded diaries, water bottles, lunch bags and drinking cups. The career exhibi- tion proved to be successful, and the organisation is encouraged to continue to be part of such events to empower previously disadvantaged learners in our communities with information on skills development op- portunities. Learners attending the Youth Day Career Expo held at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand The aim of career expos like the one conducted by the RAF is: • To provide information on career development such Learners attending the Youth Day Career Expo held as available bursaries, learnerships and internships. at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand • For various state-owned and private entities to pro- mote their services to young people and to appeal to them as future employers of choice. • For higher education institutions to promote them- selves as potential learning institutions for school- leaving youngsters. They also gather information about entrance requirements to higher learning institutions. • For the youth to obtain knowledge on various career options and different funding opportunities available for furthering their education and training. Learners attending the Youth Day Career Expo held at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Thato Tshikomb is a Skills Development Facilitator, 3 based in Eco Glades

NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES by Vanessa Mathope On 18 July 2022, South Africa and the world will be “Hi Vanessa, I really enjoy reading your articles in the celebrating Mandela Day. According to Wikipedia,18 Weekly Highlights, not only do I enjoy them, they give July, which is Nelson Mandela’s birthday, was me insight.” declared by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as Nelson Mandela International Day in I was so happy that she read my articles that I did not 2010. The purpose of this is to celebrate, recognise even read the entire email to see that she was looking and give credence to the former President’s com- forward to a follow-up article. You see, getting the nod mitment to human rights, conflict resolution and from Nobukhosi is a big deal for me because she was reconciliation (Wikipedia). My favourite part from one of the few people who were always readily avail- Wikipedia reads, “We celebrate Nelson Mandela In- able to assist me before I was a “success story”. During ternational Day every year to shine the light on the my undergraduate days I had Knowledge Management legacy of a man. This is a moment for all to renew as a module. However, the level of English used in my with the values that inspired Nelson Mandela.” This study material was difficult for me to understand. Some last sentence I had to read a few times, my eyes of the content in the modules is so difficult that before were particularly fixed on ‘values’…I thought of our someone explains the nitty-gritty in layman’s terms, ICARE Values, then said to myself, “We can’t all be you might never graduate. Since Nobukhosi was work- Nelson Mandelas,” just so I could focus on writing ing in Knowledge Management I called her, out of the this article. blue really because we had never spoken before. She held my hand, and I completed that qualification. In 2018, I registered for a postgraduate qualification and that time around I had Advanced Knowledge Manage- ment as a module. Once again, I called her. At first, she laughed and asked, “What do I know about Advanced Knowledge Management?” But she helped me through it regardless and it was not even Mandela Day. Hence when she said, “I am looking forward to reading about your day at your old high school,” I thought: what is one more article between a mentor and mentee? Ausi (Sister) Khosi, this one is for you. Then the next part reads, “On Mandela Day citizens are The Hawthorne effect entails that as soon as people encouraged to spend 67 minutes of their time in service realise that they are being observed, they begin to to others in need. These 67 minutes are in appreciation behave differently (Silverman 2013). Before our Haw- of the 67 years that Nelson Mandela spent fighting for thorne effect kicks in and we prepare to act like we are justice, equality and human rights for all” (Wikipedia). good people on 18 July 2022 for 67 minutes, let’s all Full disclaimer: I never celebrate Mandela Day be- remember that Nelson Mandela said, “Honesty, sin- cause, based on observation, most of us only act like cerity, simplicity, humility, pure generosity, absence of we care for picture purposes. I have seen so many pic- vanity, readiness to serve others – qualities which are tures of people on LinkedIn posing for pictures on Man- within easy reach of every soul – are the foundation of dela Day, with paint brushes and overalls pretending one’s spiritual life.” This year on Mandela Day let us to repaint schools, orphanages or any kind of shelter serve others out of the goodness of our hearts not to that would make them look like they care about justice, look good on the socials. equality and human rights for all. This often makes me wonder, if we really care about serving others in need, BHeuCltapHmKoteemherepaeNYAeoteudry why do we care only on 18 July for 67 minutes? What happens to those in need for the 364 days that are not Mandela Day? Maybe it is the Hawthorne effect. Ahead of Mandela Day, I would like to celebrate my ev- eryday hero, Nobukhosi Ngcobo. She is a Coordinator: Knowledge Management, in Eco Glades. On 21 June 2022 she sent me an email which read, CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Continues to the next page 4

NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES (Cont.) One of my favourite quotes by Nelson Mandela reads, “Remember that hope is a powerful weapon even when all else is lost.” I know that Youth Month ended yesterday. However, had I not got all excited before I finished reading the email from Nobukhosi, I would have said that we gave the learners hope on Thursday 16 June 2022. By defini- tion, hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen. Nelson Mandela also said, “Educa- tion is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can be- come a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the president of a great nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.” Once upon a time, this was so true. However, now you can have a PhD and still be unemployed. Therefore, we needed to give the learners hope that not all is lost. Those who want to further their studies should do so. However, they must do so for personal develop- ment without expectations of corner offices after graduation. One of the female learners was pampered with a face do. After her make-up was done, she stood up straight and was more confident to even stand in front of the crowd. Over and above our presence at the school, most of my friends were reminded of their young selves on this day and said that one of the things in matric they looked for- ward to was the matric dance. However, most of our pictures from back then are somewhat embarrassing because we could not afford to look how we wanted. Therefore, we have committed to ensuring that the class of 2022’s experience is different from ours. We are getting the class of 2022 suited. Instead of these learners wearing glittery dresses and shiny suits, my friends and I will sponsor their formal wear for the matric dance to ensure that after matric if someone needs to attend an interview they’d have a suit or a formal dress to wear. I’ll tell you, not all heroes wear capes (I have no idea who the author of this phrase is, but I agree with them). Some heroes don’t only act heroically on Mandela Day for 67 minutes. The RAF boasts real people who are as capable of being heroic as fictional superheroes. These are RAFzins who live their ICARE Values and don’t just recite them. These RAFzins are not only spending 67 minutes of their time in service to others in need on 18 July when it is Mandela Day but serving others has become a way of life for them. After all, we RAFzins are all public servants and we need to go the extra mile to serve the public. On that note, I would like to celebrate and honour my real-life hero, Nobukhosi who is the epitome of humility. - Anonymous Vanessa Mathope is a Registration Officer based in Menlyn CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE 5

Social Media Day 2022 by The Social and Digital Media Unit The RAF currently has over 430, 000 followers across five social media platforms which include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube as well as the RAF’s website which has garnered over 150, 000 visitors in the past six months. As we celebrate Social Media Day and our milestones online, it is important for RAF employees to remember that they are also RAF ambassadors whenever they interact or communicate online and to keep that in mind when active on social media. Social Media Day is an annual international event Here are the employee guidelines for Social and Digital that takes place on 30 June. Its objective is driving Media as a reminder of how to be a brand advocate for awareness of the social media channels/platforms the Fund: link. used across the globe. On 30 June 2010, Mashable, a global, multi-platform media and entertainment Happy Emoji Day!!! company, launched Social Media Day as a way to recognise and celebrate social media’s impact on global communication. While every day is essential- ly Social Media Day, 30 June 2022 marks the 12th annual official global celebration. Social media has become a valuable tool to use to connect people across the world. It not only connects people worldwide but has become a vital source of advertising for organisations like the RAF which uses social and digital media to create awareness about its services and reach a larger and wider audience net- work. Unlike traditional media, social media also has the benefit of having two-way communications with target audiences and gives space for immediate feed- back from customers and stakeholders. The RAF’s Social and Digital Media (SDM) Unit has worked hard over the years to create and grow a strong social media presence across different platforms and engage with claimants online. The RAF’s SDM platforms were set up to ensure the following objectives are met: • Bringing the RAF’s vision, mission and values to life. • Engaging with all stakeholders with an interest in the RAF, ranging from claimants to those more focused on particular issues. • Growing advocacy among all RAF stakeholders. • Contributing to building stakeholder trust in our brand. • Protecting the brand from reputational threats. • Promoting RAF services and road safety. CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE 6

TAX SEASON IS OPEN Researched by Thabang Mahlatsi Taxpayers are encouraged to file their returns for Shretottpuusrrcn:/es/w:-2w0w2.2s-atanxe-wses.agsoovn.za/south-africa/cabinet-urges-tax-payers-file- the 2022 tax filing season which will open from 01 July to 24 October 2022. ThCaobmanmguMniachaltaiotsni, ibsaaseSdpeinciEaclisot:GInlatdeernsal 7 Speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gun- gubele, said that taxpayers are encouraged to use eFiling (www.sarsefiling.co.za) or the South African Revenue Service (SARS) MobiApp. This year, SARS will continue with the auto-assess- ment of individual taxpayers, which is a pre-populated income tax return to help simplify the submission pro- cess. In 2021 more than three million taxpayers were auto-assessed. “The timely and accurate submission of tax returns not only ensures taxpayers remain compliant, but it also helps government to deliver services to South Africans who need them most,” Gungubele said. COMPLY ! CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE

LANGUAGE TIPS - Using Articles (A, An, The) Before Acronyms and Initialisms by Tholakele Radebe UFNBEI SCO DVD He has a new job at the BBC. NASA The UN was voting later that day. Acronyms (e.g., NASA, UNESCO) and initialisms An FBI agent has infiltrated the group. (e.g., FBI, BBC) are common in writing. But when do you need to use the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” The DVD player is broken. before these abbreviations? And are the rules the same for both? Find out below. He works for the RAF. Articles and Acronyms However, when you use an initialism as a noun that names a condition or illness, a substance, or a method An acronym is made up of the first letters of a phrase or of doing something, you do not usually need an article: name and pronounced as a single word (e.g., “NASA” is short for “National Aeronautics and Space Administra- DDT has been banned for many years. tion” and pronounced to sound like “nah-sah”). Too much typing has given me RSI. When you use an acronym as a noun, you do not need an article: The course teaches you how to use CPR. Bear in mind that you may come across some organ- isations that don’t use articles before their names when used as nouns, such as BMW. UNESCO designates World Heritage Sites. Indefinite Articles: “A” or “An”? Finland is not a member of NATO. When you use an indefinite article with either type of However, you can also use an acronym as a modifier abbreviation, whether you use “a” or “an” depends on to describe something else. In this case, you should the way you pronounce the term, not the spelling. use an article before the abbreviation if the word being If the abbreviation starts with a consonant sound, use modified would usually require an article. For example: “a”: The Giza pyramids are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A BBC employee was interviewed today. The UNICEF campaign raised awareness. He was a USAF pilot. Above, we are not talking about the organisations them- If the term starts with a vowel sound, use “an”: selves but using their names to specify about a site and a campaign, respectively. And since “World Heritage We have an IKEA couch at home. Site” and “campaign” would usually require an article (e.g., “a World Heritage Site” or “the campaign”), we He said he was an MP. use one before the acronym instead. As you can see above, sometimes the first letter of a Articles and Initialisms word does not match the sound it makes. For example, “u” is a vowel, but it is pronounced with a “y” sound in An initialism is like an acronym, except you pronounce “USAF,” and “m” is a consonant, but “MP” starts with a each letter separately (e.g., “FBI” is short for “Federal vowel sound. This makes it important to focus on how Bureau of Investigation” and pronounced “Eff Bee the term sounds, not the letter it starts with. Eye”). Until next week! Unlike acronyms, you often need an article before an Source: initialism when using it as either a noun or a modifier. https://proofed.com/writing-tips/using-articles-a-an-the-before- For instance: acronyms-and-initialisms/ CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Tholakele Radebe is a Copy Editor based in Eco 8 Glades

THE FUN PAGE In honour of Social Media Day this week we decided to take a humours look at Social Media. Enjoy! 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]