Weekly Highlights - 24 February 2023

Weekly Highlights 24 February 2023 - Issue No. 173 RAF Language Unit Celebrates the Decade of Indigenous Languages Xitsonga Proverb of the Week Dear Colleagues ‘Vutlhari bya mhangela i ku hubuta.’ Translation: Make hay while the sun shines. February is celebrated as National Healthy Lifestyles Meaning: If you have an opportunity to do Awareness Month, with Healthy Lifestyles Awareness something, do it before the opportunity Day being celebrated on 22 February. Healthy Lifestyles Awareness Day tackles the dangers of expires. obesity, an unhealthy diet and physical inactivity as risk factors, by promoting health and well-being among In this issue individuals, communities, and populations. CLAIMS INVESTIGATOR PROFILE: BUYISILE GUMBI According to research, a significant proportion of South Africans live unhealthy lifestyles. Factors such MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY as poverty, lack of access to healthy food options, education, and cultural norms can contribute to high PANSALB’S INTERNATIONAL MOTHER TONGUE CELE- rates of obesity, poor nutrition, and physical inactivity. BRATION EVENT IN POLOKWANE In celebration of Healthy Lifestyles Awareness Month, BE A FINANCE MINISTER AT HOME RAFzins are reminded of the reintroduction of sports to the Road Accident Fund (RAF). This is an opportunity EWS - STI/CONDOM AWARENESS for RAFzins to lead better lives and adopt good health habits by participating in the multiple sports codes THE FUN PAGE available at the Fund. The motivating factor could be that your participation could lead to you being selected Letters to the Editor to represent your office at the upcoming RAF’s National Sports Day (NSD) and the MVA Interfund Games. We invite our readers to share their comments, feedback, and suggestions Can improving our lifestyles have much of an impact on with us. Readers are encouraged to submit our health? According to the World Health Organization their letters, of no more than 200 words, to (WHO), the good news is that leading a healthy lifestyle [email protected], [email protected] can help to prevent 80% of premature deaths from and [email protected]. We are looking heart disease and strokes and 60% of premature forward to hearing from you. deaths due to cancer. Editor: Thabang Mahlatsi ([email protected]) RAFzins, by taking care of your body and mind, you’ll Sub-editor: Tholakele Radebe ([email protected]) not only feel better but also reduce your risk of chronic Senior Reporter: Naziphi Mpokela ([email protected]) diseases and improve your overall quality of life. Editor-In-Chief: Anton Janse van Rensburg ([email protected]) Enjoy this week’s Highlights! Kind regards Internal Communication

CLAIMS INVESTIGATOR PROFILE: BUYISILE GUMBI by Zama Ledwaba Buyisile Gumbi – Officer: Claims In- The role of claims investigators is becoming more vestigation, Pretoria Region important than ever. This week we profile one of our claims investigators, Buyisile Gumbi. We will discuss As part of the Forensic Investigation Department the challenges she faces in her job and some of the (FID) team’s efforts to create greater awareness most interesting cases she has worked on. Through this around fraud awareness, last week we profiled the profile we hope to provide a glimpse into the world of FID Manager, Mandlenkosi Nhlangothi, who along claims investigation. with his team have been going around conducting Fraud Awareness workshops. Last week the FID 1. Tell us about the work that you do team hosted a workshop specifically aimed at im- parting valuable knowledge to claims investigators I do claims investigation and my job description entails to ensure that they are kept abreast of the current the following: trends in claims investigation which need to be an- • Tracing witnesses and obtaining their statements. ticipated and reviewed. They were also informed of • Inspection in loco – visiting crime scenes and draw- the required standards expected when conducting their duties. ing sketch plans. • Ensuring witnesses’ presence in court. Fraud ! • Identifying fraudulent claims and referring those claims to the FID. • Verifying the details of claimants by checking the vehicles involved on the eNatis system and their identification through Home Affairs. • Doing quality checks of the documents obtained from stakeholders. • Doing quality checks on loss of support claims by obtaining the relevant documents such as birth cer- tificates and affidavits obtained from families. • In conclusion, filing the documents obtained during the process of investigation and compiling final reports. 2. What are some of the misconceptions about your work? Our investigation is time consuming, on most occasions our working hours exceed the normal eight hours a day, which makes me feel that more hours are needed to complete the job. In my opinion, overtime seems to be the only solution. 3. What do you consider to be the most interesting elements of your work? Getting to know people by meeting new people every day and conducting interviews, which improves our communication skills. 4. Briefly tell us about your most challenging inves- tigation Loss of support claims. During this investigation, an investigator needs to be extra careful, do the quality checks on all the documents submitted, and interview CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Continues to the next page 2

CLAIMS INVESTIGATOR PROFILE: BUYISILE GUMBI (CONT.) Ethical dilemmas differ according to the places that we visit daily, and the attitudes that we get from the people we meet in the line of duty, especially when dealing with stakeholders that are involved in corrupt activities. We experience that mostly when requesting documents such as copies of dockets whereby officials demand to be rewarded for giving out copies: this is bribery, it is a form of corruption. We normally report this behaviour to our managers. all the witnesses that submitted their affidavits again. 6. How do you handle the pressure of being an For example, if there is a lobola negotiation letter investigator? attached to the file, all the witnesses who were part of the negotiation must be interviewed and confirm their Time management is the most important way to reduce signatures in the letter by means of affidavits. pressure. I make sure that I draw up my investigation plan and when a file is allocated to my name, I immedi- 5. How do you deal with ethical dilemmas associat- ately attend to it to avoid the piling up of files under my ed with your unique type of work? name. 7. What do you like to do in your free time? I currently study during my spare time, and I also like spending some time with friends and family. 8. What keeps you motivated? I get motivated when I get to finalise my investigation within the given time frame. Zama Ledwaba is an Officer: Marketing and Communications, based in Menlyn CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE 3

MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY by Maurice Hlangwani The people of Bangladesh have over the years Continues to the next page dedicated, and continue to do so, the entire month of February to reflecting on language and language 4 issues. All their activities are an attempt to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. These activities are also a concerted effort to do something to save their language, Bangla, and to conscientise people all over the world about lan- guage death. This month-long dedication is also motivated by their understanding that the people of Bangladesh have about the importance of language as a birthright. Moreover, for them it is a mark of the deep connection they have with their martyrs who have paid the highest price for generations and generations to enjoy this right. This history is not unique to the people of Bangladesh only. South Africans too have their own similar history through the tragic events of June 1976. During the dark days of the apartheid regime, language was effectively used to achieve political ends. Because of the power of language, June 1976 has become etched on our collec- tive memory and is a significant part of the sociopolitical landscape of this country. Section 6 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa which granted official status to some of our languages was one of the end products of June 1976. As to whether or not the official status of some of these languages is being operation- alised into practicable results is for the authorities in CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE

MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY (CONT.) government departments and state-owned entities to If I forget my native speech, attend to. Ours is to comment on what the Use of Offi- And the songs that my people sing cial Language Act says. What use are my eyes and ears? What use is my mouth? In the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of 2023 the If I forget the smell of the earth following line which I did not agree with caught my at- And do not serve it well tention: “We are not even defined by the languages we What use are my hands? speak or the songs we sing or the work we do.” I was Why am I living in the world? puzzled by this statement since as far as I know, lan- How can I believe the foolish idea guage and identity go hand in hand. It is language that That my language is weak and poor has the power to reveal all three forms of identities at If my mother’s last words once, namely personal identity (idiolect), social identity Were in Evenki? (sociolect) and regional identity (dialect). So, we can therefore without fear of contradiction say that language In the poem, Nemtushkin sees language as a living defines who we are. organism that transmits knowledge, traditions, and customs from one generation to another. Therefore, the It is up to the Pan South African Language Board poet implores speakers to treat their languages as their (PanSALB) to evaluate how linguistic communities have own biological mothers. Songs such as Thuma Mina positively or negatively been impacted. And to help and lullabies such as Zizojikizinto that keep tinkling our us see the significance of language, Alitet Nikolaevich ears and lifting our mood are only possible through a Nemtushkin, an Evenki-Russian poet, wrote the follow- language medium. People should not stop using their ing poem to illustrate the significance of a language to mother language because doing so either will result in its native speakers: its death or make it become a zombie language due to its non-use in important domains. Alitet Nikolaevich Nemtushkin, an Evenki-Russian As the consoling arm of government, the RAF can also poet show empathy and compassion to road crash victims by providing services in the languages of the people. CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE The RAF should also step into the shoes of the poet and answer questions posed in the lamentation. Hap- py Mother Language Day in the Decade of Indigenous Languages! Source: State of the Nation Address 2023 https://opensource.com/life/14/7/FOSS-saves-dying-language Maurice Hlangwani is the Xitsonga Language Specialist 5 based in Eco Glades

PANSALB’S INTERNATIONAL MOTHER TONGUE CELEBRATION EVENT IN POLOKWANE by Nickey Mokone The annual International Mother Tongue Day (IMTD) celebration event was held from 22-21 February 2023 at the Protea Ranch Hotel outside Polokwane in Limpopo. This event was supported by our national broad- caster, the SABC, with its regional radio stations covering the event. The 2023 IMTD theme was aligned with that of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) which focused on the role of the mother tongue as a medium of instruction in enhancing the quality of our education system and fast-tracking transition in the education sector. The event drew all stakeholders from all walks of life including ordinary members of the language community, traditional leaders, language professionals, publishing companies, media, legislators, academia, religious leaders, educators, curriculum implementers, subject experts, and higher institutions of learning. The Chairperson of the PanSALB Board, Prof Makhubu-Badenhorst, officially opened and welcomed the delegates and distinguished guests. The Executive Head: Languages (PanSALB), Mr Dantile, lauded the Eastern Cape for being a trendsetter in using the mother tongue as a medium of instruction. He explicitly clarified the importance of the mother tongue as a medium of instruction in enhancing the quality of our education system and classroom assessment. He indicated that the Eastern Cape has proved that it can be done, and other provinces should follow suit. All the stakeholders agreed unanimously that working together in realising the noble cause needs everyone to pool all the resources needed. Most of the academic experts and researchers spoke in one voice on matters of policy development and political will to ensure inclusion, improving learning outcomes and enhancing academic perfor- mance, consolidating personal development, addressing knowledge gaps and increasing the speed of learning and comprehension for learners. Mother tongue teaching in the early years of child development can be an effective tool to shape careers, bolster self-confidence and inculcate self-reliance. Nickey Mokone is a Manager: Languages, based in Eco Glades CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE 6

BE A FINANCE MINISTER AT HOME Researched by Thabang Mahlatsi MONEY MONEY Manage debt MONEY “The government, like many households, has to pay for its debts and this forms part of the budget,” says Mant- shimuli. “For the next financial year, 15% of the budget will be spent on debt costs. Since 1996, when Trevor Manuel became Finance Minister, South Africa has worked hard at reducing its debt levels. The total debt owed by the country fell from 49,5% of the GDP in 1995 to 22,6% by 2008. The result is that less of the budget is allocated to paying off debt which means that more is available to spend on areas like education, health, and infrastructure.” With the Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, The key here is focusing on reducing debt. Your debt having delivered his annual Budget Speech on 22 repayments should ideally be not more than 25% of February 2023, RAFzins are also encouraged to your monthly income and should never exceed 30%. sharpen their pencils to draw up their budgets for Make sure you have a good credit record, which will put their households. you in a stronger position if you face a financial crisis. Former Reserve Bank Senior Economist, Tendani Mantshimuli, says the national budget does not differ that much from the household budget. When one thinks about it, both the government and households have needs for which there are finite funds to be allocated. A carefully structured budget can make all the difference. Here are some tips for the “finance ministers” at home. Begin with a budget Know how much income you have and the value of the Save for emergencies bills to be paid. Then prioritise how the money will be spent. There’s always a limited amount available for Mantshimuli points out that during our period of strong financial commitments, necessities, and luxuries, says economic growth, the Finance Minister ran a budget Mantshimuli, so apportion your money carefully. surplus rather than giving in to the temptation to blow the country’s entire income. The government spent less ? money than it received, creating a buffer for when eco- nomic conditions changed. ? Due to the financial crisis, South Africa is now running ? a budget deficit as tax revenues have fallen. The deficit is still manageable, though, because of our low overall debt levels. The government has been able to borrow money at very favourable rates. The minister stated that it is important to use good economic times to boost savings. Mantshimuli says your budget needs to factor in emer- CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Continues to the next page 7

BE A FINANCE MINISTER AT HOME (CONT.) gency savings as you never know when your financial provide you with an economic benefit in the future,” she situation will change. She says you should try to put says. 5% of your income into a money market account each month. And make a point of increasing your savings Maintain discipline while interest rates and debt repayments are lower. “If you think you face pressure to spend money, imag- Save for the long term ine being the Finance Minister! Every government department would like to have more money and there The government’s role is not to save money for the long is a great deal of political pressure to loosen the purse term as that money is better spent on the economy. strings,” Mantshimuli says. However, expenditure on infrastructure can be seen as a form of a long-term saving. The National Treasury requires departments to submit their budgets and to be accountable for the money that Economists estimate that for every R1 the government they are receiving. According to the minister, he re- spends on infrastructure like roads and telecommuni- ceived budget requests from the departments totalling cation, the economy receives about R2 in economic R1,3-trillion! That was R350-billion more than the total benefit. Mantshimuli says this is unlike other areas budget — he has to know when to say “no”. of spending, such as health and social grants, which bring immediate relief, but which do not build long-term How does this work in the household? Well, when your wealth. children demand an iPhone or PlayStation, suggest they budget for it out of their pocket money. Don’t use “Apart from meeting your day-to-day expenses, you debt to fund luxuries — budget to spoil someone. That need to include long-term savings that can grow and way, they’ll appreciate the purchase so much more. Source: https://mg.co.za/article/2011-03-28-be-a-finance-minister-at-home/ Thabang Mahlatsi is a Specialist: Internal Communication, based in Eco Glades CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE 8

EWS – STI/CONDOM AWARENESS by East London Region CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE 9

THE FUN PAGE This week we take a look at the funny side of dieting all in an attempt to keep a healthy lifestyle. 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]