Weekly Highlights 17 February 2023

Weekly Highlights 17 February 2023 - Issue No. 172 RAF Language Unit Celebrates the Decade of Indigenous Languages IsiZulu Proverb of the Week Dear Colleagues ‘Umuntu umuntu ngabantu’ On Monday, 13 February 2023, people around the Translation: No man is an island. world joined together to celebrate and highlight the Meaning: No person is self-sufficient. problems faced by people with epilepsy, their families, and carers. International Epilepsy Day is a special We need each other to thrive. event which promotes awareness of epilepsy in more than 120 countries each year. In this issue This year’s theme is, “Step up against Stigma”, and it RAF WELCOMES FIRST COHORT OF THE GRADUATE provides a platform for people with epilepsy, and those PROGRAMME who care for them, to dispel myths with facts. THE FORENSIC INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT HOSTS Epilepsy, also known as seizure disorder, is the fourth FRAUD AWARENESS WORKSHOPS most common neurological disorder and one of the oldest-known medical conditions. The condition causes BEWARE OF CYBERATTACKS electrical activity in the brain to stop for a short time, which leads to recurrent seizures. Even though 65 THE JOHANNESBURG FESTIVAL OF WOMEN WRITERS million people in the world live with epilepsy, there is still some stigma around the disease. International GIVING BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY Epilepsy Day exists to educate the general public about epilepsy and to teach people how to provide better care THE FUN PAGE for people living with the disorder. Letters to the Editor People with epilepsy are encouraged to prioritise self- care and seek support from family, friends, and medical We invite our readers to share their professionals. A positive outlook and a strong support comments, feedback, and suggestions system can help individuals with epilepsy to manage with us. Readers are encouraged to submit their condition and maintain a healthy work-life balance. their letters, of no more than 200 words, to [email protected], [email protected] Enjoy this week’s Highlights! and [email protected]. We are looking forward to hearing from you. Kind regards Editor: Thabang Mahlatsi ([email protected]) Internal Communication Sub-editor: Tholakele Radebe ([email protected]) Senior Reporter: Naziphi Mpokela ([email protected]) Editor-In-Chief: Anton Janse van Rensburg ([email protected])

RAF WELCOMES FIRST COHORT OF THE GRADUATE PROGRAMME by People Management: Organisational Effectiveness RAF Executive and Senior Management meeting with cohort of Graduates. Back (Left-Right): Acting CCSO, Ian Barriel; CFO, Bernice Potgieter; CSTO, Phathutshedzo Lukhwareni; RAF CEO, Collins Letsoalo; CGO, Mampe Kumalo; ACIO, Sefotle Modiba; Acting Head: Medical Management, Sylvia Shakwane; and Head: Office of the CEO, Mpho Manyasha. Front (Left-Right): Rivaldo Luthuli; Chris Nkuna; Lerato Chigo; Busisiwe Mtsweni; Kabelo Khanye; and Victor Pale The Road Accident Fund (RAF) recognises the need Names of Graduates to ensure that competent people and teams are recruited, developed, and retained in order to meet its current and future people management needs. In support of this objective, it has introduced its inaugural Graduate Programme. The programme will serve as one of the processes Victor Pale — Kabelo Khanye — Digital through which a professional pipeline will be sourced Infrastructure Support and Cyber Security and developed whereby the RAF’s strategic objectives can be achieved. The programme, aligned with the RAF Workforce Plan, will support the organisation’s future business and skills needs. We are excited to welcome our first group of graduates Busisiwe Mtsweni — Lerato Chigo — Medical participating in this programme, initiated, and devel- Medical Management Management oped over the last year. The graduates commenced with the programme on 01 February 2023 and will follow a rigorous development programme over the next 18 to 24 months at the RAF in the following disciplines: • Digital and Cyber Security; • Infrastructure Support; and • Medical Management. The graduates have already completed the RAF Rivaldo Luthuli — Chris Nkuna — Medical On-boarding Programme, the Motor Vehicle Accident Medical Management Management (MVA) Intermediary Programme, and Microsoft Office training. CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Continues to the next page 2

RAF WELCOMES FIRST COHORT OF THE GRADUATE PROGRAMME (CONT.) An official introductory ceremony was held on Friday, 10 The ceremony, hosted by the CEO, is a testament to February 2023, where the graduates met and engaged Executive Management’s commitment to youth em- with the RAF Chief Executive Officer, Collins Letsoalo; ployment and development, and using young talent not Acting Chief Corporate Support Officer, Ian Barriel; only to fulfil the RAF’s mandate but also to offer them Chief Governance Officer, Mampe Kumalo; Acting Chief much-needed opportunities for growth. Investment Officer, Sefotle Modiba; Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Phathutshedzo Lukhwareni; After completing their basic on-boarding and technical Chief Financial Officer, Bernice Potgieter; Head: Office training programmes, they will soon be deployed to of the CEO, Mpho Manyasha; Acting Head: Medical their respective business units and provincial offices Management, Sylvia Shakwane; and Head: Technology (Menlyn and Johannesburg) to commence with their and Digital, Sello Lehong. practical training. The CEO and members of the Executive warmly wel- We take this opportunity to welcome our graduates and comed the graduates to the organisation and encour- wish them all the best with their respective programmes aged the young men and women to seize this oppor- in the coming months. tunity to learn as much as they can about the mandate and role of the RAF. CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE 3

THE FORENSIC INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT HOSTS FRAUD AWARENESS WORKSHOPS by Zama Ledwaba The Forensic Investigation Department (FID) has In the beginning, there were some reservations and commenced 2023 by amplifying the message of reluctance to engage about fraud and corruption issues fraud prevention through its hosting of workshops among staff members. However, the attitude of RAFz- targeting the different departments of the RAF. We ins towards fraud awareness is continuously improving chatted with Mandla Nhlangothi, Manager: Fraud with each session as they realise the importance and Awareness, to find out more about these work- contribution of each and every employee in the RAF shops. fraud prevention and detection programme. 3. What are the fraud trends that you have been able to identify? They vary from one department or business activity to the next. The FID keeps a fraud trends and analysis report that enables the presentation of fraud awareness to each business unit of the RAF. Employees were workshopped on fraud trends which may happen within their area of responsibility as well as references to completed investigations related to their business units (case studies). Mandla Nhlangothi — Manager: Fraud Awareness 4. What three major factors have been identified which may lead to fraudulent behaviour? 1. What is the purpose of hosting the fraud aware- ness workshops? There are number of control and non-compliance issues, but for the purpose of this discussion we identi- The workshops are part of the FID fraud prevention pro- fied five of them as follows: gramme. Their purpose is to ensure that employees are vigilant in preventing and detecting fraudulent activities • Too many systems operating in silos. within their areas of responsibility. The workshops focus • Too much paperwork which makes tracking diffi- on the fraud trends and patterns that were identified in the RAF, fraud red flags, and encouraging staff mem- cult. bers to report suspicious incidents committed against • Poor due diligence/inadequate independent the RAF. checking of unusual transactions. 2. What has the attitude towards the workshops • Records destroyed without following proper pro- been amongst RAFzins? cedure. • Unauthorised/unlimited access to confidential information/documents. CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Continues to the next page 4

THE FORENSIC INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT HOSTS FRAUD AWARENESS WORKSHOPS (CONT.) For an individual to commit fraud, they must be in a po- 6. What tips would you give to fellow RAFzins to sition of opportunity, have a factor that motivates them help them stay clear of any possible fraudulent to commit fraud and have the ability to justify why they activity? commit it (For instance, some will claim that everyone else is doing it in order to rationalise their behaviour). Understand the warning signs of fraud within your areas of responsibility, always abide by organisational policies 5. After the fraud awareness workshops, has there and procedures and live by the Values of the organisa- been any noticeable changes in behaviour amongst tion. RAFzins? Report any suspicion of fraud and corruption to: Employees have a better understanding of their own [email protected] or Whistleblowing: 0800 11 12 24. responsibilities in fraud prevention within the RAF. We have seen an increase in the number of reported suspi- REMEMBER: You can remain Anonymous. cious activities which indicate that RAFzins are begin- ning to understand the reporting channels which were Please see below the highlights of the Fraud Aware- established by the RAF. ness Workshops recently held at the Pretoria Office. CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Zama Ledwaba is an Officer: Marketing and 5 Communication, based in Menlyn

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THE JOHANNESBURG FESTIVAL OF WOMEN WRITERS by Vanessa Mathope lady standing next to me as I was signing the register screamed, “Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has just arrived. I am going to go take pictures and I’ll sign the register after.” Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka Mrs Zanele Mbeki On Sunday, 12 February 2023, I attended the first In attendance were celebrity authors such as Pulane Johannesburg Festival of Women Writers, an Mlilo Mpondo, author of the book Things My Mother initiative of the University of Johannesburg and the Left Me, and Pamela Power, author of Ms Conception Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study (JIAS). and Things Unseen, who is also a television scriptwriter When I first heard about the festival on Radio 702, and script editor. She has worked on popular television I wanted to go because Lorraine Sithole was going shows such as Top Billing, Generations, Rockville, to be there, and I wanted to meet her. Lorraine Uzalo and Muvhango. There were over 30 authors on Sithole is a reading activist advocating for reading the programme, so I am not going to mention all of for lifelong enjoyment across all generations. She them. is the Vice-Chairperson of the International Board on Books for Young People South Africa, founder While hanging out with these celebrity authors, I kept of the Bookworms Book Club, a publisher, and getting this one question: “When did you start writing?” I a writer. She was also the organiser of the first swear most of them thought that I was lying when I said Johannesburg Festival of Women Writers. that my first article was published in February 2022 in the organisation’s weekly newsletter. But the truth is I Initially, I just went to the event to meet Lorraine. have only been a ‘writer’ for a year now, thanks to the However, when I arrived there on Sunday morning, I Weekly Highlights I am now rubbing shoulders with the found out that it was a star-studded event. I am one likes of Lorraine Sithole. of those ‘special’ people who are absent from social media. Therefore, even when I was surrounded Continues to the next page 7 by important people I did not even know until the programme commenced officially. So, I don’t have any pictures to brag that I spent my Sunday with Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg and the former first lady, Mme (Mrs) Zanele Mbeki. I just remember seeing men in suits and a woman walking in between them. The CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE

THE JOHANNESBURG FESTIVAL OF WOMEN WRITERS (CONT.) Lorraine Sithole - Reading Activist and Founder of the Book- the running of the feature. Most RAFzins thought that worms Book Club I was making up the pieces of legislations and SOP in my articles because they had never seen them before The festival was about celebrating women writers, and the feature. Let us start a reading culture, my fellow I know that there are many women writers within the RAFzins. Next year when I attend the Johannesburg organisation, hence this article. There is a saying that Festival of Women Writers again, I want to look forward when you educate a woman, you educate a nation. Let to hearing about how things have changed because us get the younger generation excited about reading more women read or write books. books, fellow RAFzins. It bothers me that the number of grade 4 learners who cannot read for meaning has As much as I am not a celebrity author yet (still just increased. This cannot be, it cannot go on like this, we Vanessa from the Weekly Highlights), you should see need these children reading again. However, they are the excitement on my colleagues’ faces when they not going to read if we do not lead by example. realise that I am that Vanessa. Priceless! Like most of the people who were attending the festival, I met Lorraine Sithole and signed a book for her. The best part for me was that she was just as excited to meet me and she couldn’t wait to do an Insta story with the caption “Finally met @mathopevanessaneo.” After attending the festival, I went home with a Vanessa Mathope is a Registration Officer based in 8 heavy heart from all the information that was shared Menlyn throughout the day that we as South Africans don’t read as much as we should. As an academic, an author and a mother to a grade 4 learner I am concerned that we don’t read. I also know that most of us RAFzins don’t read. I know this because when I was doing the Getting to Know the Registry feature last year, many of my colleagues were asking me to send them copies of the Records Management Policy and the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that I kept referencing in my articles. The same way the celebrity authors thought I was lying about celebrating my first anniversary as a writer this February, I experienced the same thing throughout CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE

GIVING BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY Researched by Naziphi Mpokela On Monday 13 February 2023 South Africa declared As RAFzins, kindness, compassion and empathy are a state of national disaster after floods caused emotions that are deeply rooted in our ICARE Values as by heavy rains in recent days left seven people we live and breathe the Values in and out of the office. deceased and others missing, according to disaster One might want to give back to the community but not management centres in several provinces. The bad know where to begin. In this article we discuss various weather continues to threaten seven provinces out ways that you as a RAFzin can make a difference to of nine that the country has, mainly on the east people who have been affected directly or indirectly coast, open to the Indian Ocean. by the floods or any other devastating event in your community, in our country and to our claimants. “The government has declared a state of national disaster to enable a sustained and coordinated 1. Give a little time response to the impact of the floods,” the presidency said in a statement. Those on a tight budget could donate something that might even be more valuable than money – your time. The National Weather Centre is predicting “persistent Participate in a community clean-up or find a soup and heavy” rains ahead, with the risk of flooding due to kitchen to volunteer at. Local animal shelters could “waterlogged soils and saturated rivers”. always use the extra help and a trip to a local nursing home to socialise with the residents can make a world With the amount of damage that these floods have of difference. Micro-volunteering is charity work that caused in our country it is the opportune time now can be done in very small, bite-sized chunks of time (30 more than ever for people to show kindness, care, and minutes). Help a charity by homing in on what you’re empathy towards each other. good at. If sport is your thing, there are schools and childcare facilities where you can volunteer to coach or play sport with children. 2. Support local stores and services You might not think of your everyday shopping as a way to give back to the community, but it actually can be. Whenever you shop locally or use local services, you support a community member from your local area. To make even more of an impact, help them gain more business by leaving a positive review for them online or share their contact information with friends and family on your social pages. CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Continues to the next page 9

GIVING BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY Researched by Naziphi Mpokela planting trees or food gardens. 7. Start a community garden 3. Donate unwanted goods If there is an open plot of land in your suburb, get in touch with your local municipality and explore the One of the best ways to give back to your community possibility of starting a community garden. The benefits on a budget is to donate items that you no longer of a community garden include being out in the fresh need but can still be useful to someone else. Clothes, air, exercising, and providing food to the less fortunate. textiles, and toys are wanted by hospice charity shops Gardening also provides the opportunity to set an who will sell them to raise funds for their patients. You example for the next generation by showing them how could visit your local hospice, children’s home, animal much work it takes to produce food and why it should shelter, or soup kitchen to find out if they are in need of not be taken for granted or wasted. Food-growing something specific. projects are a great way to bring the community together. With plenty of jobs in a garden, there’s bound to be something to suit every ability or skill. 4. Donate some blood 8. Give time to man’s best friend Giving blood will cost you nothing but it could save Many stray or abandoned animals homed in shelters someone’s life. Donating just one unit of blood can are in need of some love and attention. The Society save up to three lives. Hospitals and clinics run through for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has blood very quickly, so every drop counts. Try to get your shelters around SA where volunteers can walk or suburb more involved by organising a day to donate play with the animals or assist with chores like cage blood. cleaning. Smaller organisations like the Wet Nose Animal Rescue Centre and Kitty Shelter also invite 5. Promote causes on social media volunteers to visit and help with tasks, while giving the animals a bit of care. You may end up sponsoring, If you are unable to support a cause financially, perhaps fostering, or adopting a pet. Locate an SPCA or somebody you know might be in a position to do so. animal shelter in your area and contact them about Sometimes it is as easy as making someone aware of a volunteering or visiting for a few hours. They’ll let you problem for them to do something about it. You can use know what you might need to bring, how best you can your social media presence to drive awareness for a help and when the best times are to visit. Get in touch certain cause that you believe needs more assistance. with your local SPCA and other local shelters. You never know who might also share and get even more people involved in the activity. It could make a Though one might not have the means to help in a huge impact. dramatic way, there are still many small ways to help those in need. If everyone contributes in whatever way 6. Share or discover a passion they can, it will make a noticeable difference in our country. Give your time or share your knowledge to help with a community food garden or to help green areas by htShbottaot-tpypcusoskr:cu:-//o/er/w-wn:cw-woawmw-b..mwpuorduimvgnaeiatttyen//8pa9rno3dp8heormty.ecmo.azgaa/azdinveic.ceo/l.ifzeas/tliyfele//eaarstiyc-lewsa/6ys-w-taoy-gsi-vtoe--gbiavcek-- planting trees. These are sustainable projects in urban areas set up by local volunteers or organisations and Naziphi Mpokela isbaasSedpeinciEalcisot:GInlatedrensal Communication 10 range from developing community food gardens to sponsoring indigenous or fruit trees for planting in dusty township areas. Organisers set up Volunteer Days whenever there’s a need for extra helping hands in CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE

THE FUN PAGE This week we take a look at the funny side of being an intern. 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]