Weekly Highlights 08 April 2022

Weekly Highlights 08 April 2022 - Issue No. 130 In this issue Dear Colleagues National RAF Employee Award Winners – Best On Monday, 04 April 2022, President Cyril National Female Employee Award: Katlego Ma- Ramaphosa announced that Cabinet had decided to sha – Eco Glades lift the National State of Disaster but would maintain some aspects of the regulations enacted to respond Celebrating Our RAF Graduates – Nonhlanhla to the coronavirus pandemic. This followed 750 days Sithole under which the country had to be placed under various COVID-19 related lockdown alert levels. GETTING TO KNOW THE REGISTRY − ARTICLE 8 The President stated that South Africa had entered New Extension for driving licences in South a new phase of the pandemic, illustrated by the Africa number of fatalities being recorded. The end of the National State of Disaster also means that World health day 2022 the coronavirus alert levels will no longer apply. However, he clarified that some measures which will South africa is no longer in a state of disas- lapse after 30 days will still be in place to allow for a ter smooth transition since the requirements for a State of Disaster to be declared in terms of the Disaster Covid-19 Statistics Management Act are no longer met. the fun page In future, the government’s Covid-19 response will be guided by regulations under the National Health Act, Letters to the Editor which has been released as a draft and is available for public comment until 16 April. We invite our readers to share their comments, feedback, and suggestions The President also urged citizens to remain vigilant with us. Readers are encouraged to submit against the virus and protect themselves through their letters, of no more than 200 words, to vaccination. “Our greatest responsibility is to make [email protected] and TholakeleR@raf. sure that we are vaccinated against Covid-19 and to co.za. We are looking forward to hearing from encourage others to get vaccinated. Vaccination is you. our best defence against Covid-19.  Vaccination is also the best weapon we have to reduce the chances Editor: Thabang Mahlatsi ([email protected]) of future waves of infection that overwhelm our Sub-editor: Tholakele Radebe ([email protected]) health facilities – and that may require that we once Editor-In-Chief: Anton Janse van Rensburg ([email protected]) more declare a state of disaster”. How this will affect our working arrangements remains to be seen, but no matter what happens, we have all the different non-pharmaceutical control measures and vaccines in place to protect ourselves against Covid-19. It seems like now the worst is over. Enjoy this week’s Highlights Kind regards Internal Communication

National RAF Employee Award Winners – Best National Female Employee Award: Katlego Masha – Eco Glades by Thabang Mahlatsi and Tholakele Radebe The National RAF Employee Award Winners were Katlego Masha - Team Lead: Call Centre announced about two weeks ago in a ceremony based in Eco Glades held in Durban. We spoke to some of the winners about how they felt after receiving their awards. RAF 2021-22 Best Female Award Recipient The Best National Female Employee Award went to Thabang Mahlatsi bisaaseSdpiencEiacliostG: Ilnatdeernsal Communication Katlego Masha from Eco Glades, and she had the fol- lowing to say about her achievement: Tholakele Radebe is a Copy Editor based in Eco Glades 1. How does it feel to win the Best National Fe- 2 male Employee Award at the RAF? Having worked for the RAF for the past 10 years (com- pleted on 01 April 2022) now and having grown within the organisation, I feel honoured and humbled because I now understand why it takes time to get a reward of this magnitude. It takes hard work, dedication, and con- sistency to get this far. Merely being an RAF employee gives me no entitlement to be rewarded, it’s what I do to make a difference that counts and now I get it. I would like to take all the glory and bask in it, however, that would not be a true reflection of events. I am here because of my team: my managers and co-workers who chose to nominate me. We sometimes think of people we want to nominate but never really get around to it until it is too late. However, in my case, my nomi- nators put in the work and for that, KEA LEBOGA! (THANK YOU!) 2. The financial year has just commenced, what motivational advice do you have for other RAF employees? Do not wait for the end of the year to put in the effort, start now. Procrastination is the thief of time. Be diligent in your work and meet people where they are then lift them up with you. Remain humble and always be willing to serve. When you identify a problem, provide the solution for it, otherwise do not raise the problem. Let us all live the RAF Values in order to get the job done with the utmost integrity. CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE

Celebrating Our RAF Graduates – Nonhlanhla Sithole by Zama Ledwaba 2. How was your whole studying experience, what challenges did you experience and how did you handle them? It was the best experience for me. I had to adapt to many changes due to COVID-19 and I met amazing people who hold higher positions along the way. Personally, I don’t worry too much about challenges be- cause I told myself in life, we will always come across them. One thing that helps me to overcome challenges is that I have a positive attitude − and I don’t give up easily. 3. With regards to your personal development, what are your plans for the future? Nonhlanhla Sithole In five years, in terms of my career, I hope to be in a Officer Caterer, Menlyn Region supervisory position. With regards to my academic advancement, I plan to do my Master’s in Business Malcom X once said, “Education is a passport to Administration. the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today”. The moment you receive com- 4. What kept you going when things seemed to be munication that you have passed all your modules going uphill? to complete your qualification, it means you are in possession of a passport to a future that you have When things aren’t going my way, I keep going. I don’t meticulously planned for. hold back. I’ve learned that one’s attitude, which may seem like a small thing, makes a big difference. All I have to do is to believe that nothing is permanent, everything has an expiry date. The dark moments aren’t always grim. This week we celebrate Nonhlanhla Sithole, Office Caterer based in Menlyn. Through the Road Accident Fund’s (RAF’s) Learning and Development (L and D) Bursary Programme, she recently completed her Honours in Business Administration. We wish to con- gratulate her on a job well done and wish her well for the future. We chatted with her to find out more about her academ- ic journey, what it took to attain her goals and her future career development plans. 1. Please tell us briefly about yourself, include your current position at the RAF and your qualifications I am Nonhlanhla Sithole, born in a village called eMa- Continues to the next page... 3 gogo (Nkandla) from KwaZulu-Natal. I’ve been working for the Road Accident Fund (RAF) since 2019 as an Office Caterer. My qualifications include a National Di- ploma in Human Resources Management (Durban Uni- versity of Technology), Advanced Diploma in Business Management (MANCOSA) and a Bachelor of Business Administration Honours degree (MANCOSA). CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE

Celebrating Our RAF Graduates – Nonhlanhla Sithole (Cont.) 5. What advice would you give to someone who is 6. How did you celebrate your academic achieve- considering being a working student (balancing ment since it was scheduled to take place during career, academics and family)? the lockdown and that meant you couldn’t have a traditional ceremony? I know very well that things may get difficult, but you must take it easy and not be so hard on yourself. Firstly, I went out with my friends for lunch. I didn’t do much take a keen interest in your modules. Secondly, if you because I wanted to celebrate with my entire family. realise that you are not coping, take the initiative to It was a heart-breaking moment for me not to have a meet with your classmates to form a study group, then traditional graduation ceremony. monitor your progress. Don’t forget to spend time with your family and ask them to be more supportive. 7. What’s your personal mantra? It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop. Zama Ledwaba is a Marketing and Communications Officer based in Menlyn CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE 4

GETTING TO KNOW THE REGISTRY − ARTICLE 8 by Vannesa Mathope purpose of these guidelines is to enable records managers to compile their own Records Manage- ment Policies using the guidelines as a basis to work from.” On 9 February 2021, a Management Directive titled “Records Management Policy” was sent via email to all of us. The required outcome of the directive in ques- tion was adherence to the policy, and the due date was immediate. Today, I would like us to look at Section 8 of this policy titled “Roles and Responsibilities”, from 8.1: The CEO must:, to 8.14: Other Employees. Remem- ber, NARSSA (2007:45) also says that good records management practices are a product of collaborative efforts amongst all of us. The RAF’s Records Manage- ment Policy echoes that sentiment. Therefore, in this article the focus will be on ICT guided by Section 8.5: The Senior Manager: Information Security, IT Risk and Governance must. All the information presented in this article was gathered from the RAF’s annual reports under ICT’s annual reporting. Vanessa Mathope: Registration Officer According to the annual reports, the RAF’s automation Menlyn journey is 20 years old. As established from various an- nual reports, the operations of the RAF are still largely The National Archives and Records Service of paper-based (RAF 2018/2019:143-149; 2017/2018:123- South Africa (NARSSA) (2007:73) is titled “ANNEX- 128; 2016/2017:124-127). However, the organisation URE 4: GUIDELINES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT constantly seeks ways to move to an electronic envi- OF A RECORDS MANAGEMENT POLICY (INCLUD- ronment (RAF 2018/2019:143-149; 2018:123-128). It ING AN EXAMPLE OF A RECORDS MANAGEMENT uses technology to process claims, store and protect POLICY.” NARSSA (2007:73) communicates that information related to motor vehicle accident claims “Records should be managed by the governmen- (RAF 2018/2019:143-149). According to the RAF’s an- tal body in terms of the broad policy guidelines nual reports, the ICT Business Unit has facilitated the contained in the National Archives and Records organisation’s automation process, including records Service of South Africa Act, (Act No 43 of 1996 as management processes (RAF 2018/2019:143-149; amended). It is, however, essential for each body 2017/2018:123-128; 2016/2017:124-127). Correspon- to establish its own Records Management Policy dence and Document Management Services, which to link its unique processes and procedures to the performs records management functions in the RAF’s requirements of the National Archives and Records regional offices, relies on ICT to procure record-keeping Service of South Africa Act. The policy should not infrastructure and service the equipment on their behalf only be in line with the Act, but should also link (RAF 2018/2019:147-149). Even though Correspon- up with the body’s overall mandate and mission dence and Document Management Services does not objectives. The Records Management Policy pro- form part of the ICT Business Unit in the Pretoria Re- vides the framework within which a governmental gional Office, ICT still provides this unit with technical body affirms its commitment to create authentic support and enables it to adopt and implement ICT re- and reliable records. These guidelines are issued sources for record-keeping (RAF 2018/2019:123-128). in terms of section 13(4) of the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa Act, 1996. The According to the annual reports, during the 2001/2002 financial year, the institution’s Internal Audit Business CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Unit performed risk-focused reviews of the systems and processes (RAF 2002:24). This business unit was Continues to the next page... 5

GETTING TO KNOW THE REGISTRY − ARTICLE 8 (Cont.) operating as the Risk Management Team that as- to promote good governance and effectively manage sessed the RAF’s exposure to risks and advised on operational risks (RAF 2004/ 2005:5). The institution mitigating identified risks (RAF2001/2002:24). Internal sought to implement an Integrated Claims Management Audit identified the management of information as a System, and investments were made in pursuit of find- significant risk that was threatening the existence of the ing a single ICT solution for effective claims processing RAF, and the institution had to develop and implement (RAF 2004/2005:5). The assumption was that it would tools for addressing the information management issue increase the RAF’s effectiveness (RAF 2004/2005:21). (RAF 2001/2002:24). One of the requirements set out Unfortunately, the RAF could not implement the system by the risk assessment team was that the organisation by the conclusion of the financial year on 31 March had to develop a clear plan of action describing how to 2005 (RAF 2004/2005:21). manage information. The organisation had to establish business processes and systems to comply with the In the 2006 Annual Report, the organisation acknowl- internal audit findings (RAF 2001/2002:24). Subse- quently, the RAF sought proactive measures to deal with the identified risk by procuring and implementing new computer systems to manage information bet- ter (RAF 2001/2002:6). The RAF’s efforts to automate processes were set in motion. Internal Audit’s recom- mendations were adopted to minimise the institution’s exposure to the identified information management risk (RAF 2001/2002:24). edged it had underinvested in information technol- ogy (IT) tools that could have assisted the organisa- tion to process claims better over the years (RAF 2005/2006:21). According to the RAF Annual Report (2005/2006:21), the institution set aside R200 million to improve its ICT and other related business systems to ensure that technologies required to enhance claims processing were in place. In 2004, the RAF realised it was also facing difficulties In 2007, the investment into new systems and pro- in processing claims (RAF 2004/2005:4). The organisa- cesses gained momentum and an Enterprise Resource tion’s inability to process claims effectively, which result- Planning solution was put out to tender, and decisions ed in growing backlogs, was one of the challenges that about an appropriate claims management solution affected the RAF’s ability to deliver timely services to were finalised (RAF 2006/ 2007:21). Solutions sought the public (RAF 2004/2005:4). It was also reported that were aimed at replacing the system used by the RAF a rescue plan was developed in September 2005 to ad- known as the “Legacy Systems” (RAF 2006/2007:21). dress the issue mentioned above. According to the RAF The RAF wanted to replace its current system because (2004/2005:5), this plan encouraged the RAF to review of its alleged continuous failure to offer the organisa- and redefine its internal processes for investments tion adequate support in processing motor vehicle into modernising the paper-based operations. During accident claims. The legacy systems were blamed for this period, one of the RAF’s strategic objectives was the institution’s inability to timely process claims (RAF 2006/2007:21). It was also reported that even though CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE the RAF wanted to make use of ICT to administer Continues to the next page... 6

GETTING TO KNOW THE REGISTRY − ARTICLE 8 (Cont.) claims, the organisation was against developing cus- paste, such as today’s article. However, it is not plagia- tom-made solutions from scratch. The objective was rism since I referenced all the sources used. Now, the to adopt proven solutions that were already in use by AGSA’s findings for the years 2019 and 2020 respec- other insurance organisations like this institution (RAF tively confirm that the organisation’s record-keeping 2006/2007:21). The organisation employed consultants processes are poor and do not conform with the coun- to seek solutions appropriate for the institution (RAF try’s legislation (RAF 2018/2019:192; 2019/2020:166). 2006/2007:21). After thorough investigations, the or- In terms of NARSSA’s (2007: i) service delivery theory, ganisation selected a solution that was perceived suit- it takes longer for organisations with poor records able through a tendering process (RAF 2006/2007:21). management practices to deliver timely services to the The RAF envisaged that the chosen solution would im- public because accurate information cannot be found prove information sharing and enhance efficiencies in to make decisions when required. RAFzins, it’s time claims processing (RAF 2006/2007:21). However, the to have a long, hard look at our records management solution that was adopted did not produce the expected practices and do what is required of us to advance the results because the search continued. work of the RAF, which will lead to its long-awaited transformation. Despite a number of attempts made to transform the RAF into a paperless environment, none have been completely successful so far. At the time of writing this article, I was in possession of the 2019/2020 Annual Report. On page 127 it reads: “The journey that commenced in the 2017/18 financial year to acquire and deploy an ECMS to address one of the major business challenges facing the RAF, i.e. be- ing highly paper-based, gained significant momentum during the year under review.” The report continued to say: “Initiatives to deploy these technologies were successfully completed” (RAF 2019/2020:127). How- ever, on 9 November 2020, the RAF announced via its various social media platforms that the institution had received a clean audit outcome. Part of the me- dia statement read: “The RAF welcomes the Auditor- General’s (AGSA’s) audit outcome for the 2019/2020 financial year. The AGSA issued an unqualified audit opinion with no material findings to the organisa- tion. It is the first clean audit for the RAF in over three financial years. While the organisation maintained the unqualified audit opinion over the past financial year, the AGSA still found concerning material findings. The AGSA audit focused on the quality of financial state- ments, performance information, and compliance with laws and regulations” (RAF2019/2020). The issued media statement showed that the RAF still Sources: references used in this article is available on request struggles to comply with laws and regulations that are The list of the pillars of good corporate governance, regardless of the initiatives to deploy technologies “being suc- Vanessa Mathope is a Registration Officer based in cessfully completed” (RAF 2019/2020:127). I am not Menlyn. one to bite the hand that feeds me. Hence throughout this feature I have relied on annual reports as main data collection tools because they are available to the public as well. Therefore, everything that I wrote about is public knowledge. Additionally, most of it was cut and CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE 7

New Extension for Driving Licences in South Africa – What You Should Know Researched by Thabang Mahlatsi Backlog In a statement released on 25 March 2022, the Depart- ment of Transport said it was well on track with the production of outstanding driving licence cards. Further- more, the renewal backlog that was experienced due to the Covid-19 pandemic grace period will be cleared off by September 2022. The following regulation will apply in due course: • Motorists who applied to renew their driving licence cards before 31 March 2022 will have their driving licences valid for a further three months on the condition that they are in possession of their old driving licence cards. They must also have proof of the fees paid for the application to renew in the form of a receipt. Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has announced an extension of the grace period for the validity of driving licences in South Africa that have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. In a Government Gazette published on Thursday (31 “The regulation is also applicable to those who have March 2022), Mbalula said all learners’ licences, driving applied to renew their driving licence cards since 25 licence cards, temporary driving licences and profes- February 2022 and before the end of the grace period sional driving permits that expired during the period be- of 31 March 2022. Their driving licence cards will also tween 26 March 2020 and 31 March 2022 are deemed be valid for a further period of three months. to be valid. Their validity has been extended for a further grace period ending 15 April 2022. “If you apply after the expiry date, please note that you will be required to apply for a temporary driving Mbalula had previously extended expired licences to 31 licence,” the department said. March 2022 due to delays caused by the Covid-19 pan- demic which meant motorists could not visit licensing Source: centres. This grace period covered all documents which https://businesstech.co.za/news/motoring/573168/new-extension-for- expired in the period between 26 March 2020 and 31 driving-licences-in-south-africa-what-you-should-know/ August 2021. Thabang Mahlatsi is a Specialist: Internal 8 However, the country still faces a significant backlog of Communication based in Eco Glades licence renewals which is estimated to be in the hun- dreds of thousands due to ongoing lockdown delays and the breakdown of the country’s only licence card printing machine at the end of 2021. CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE

World Health Day 2022 Researched by Thabang Mahlatsi World Health Day, held on 07 April each year, is vironmental causes. This includes the climate crisis commemorated annually, and dedicated to pro- which is the single biggest health threat facing human- moting the benefits of good health and well-being ity. The climate crisis is also a health crisis. worldwide. While the COVID-19 pandemic showed us the healing First started by the World Health Organization in 1950, power of science, it also highlighted the inequities in our fundraising campaigns are created in the build-up to world. The pandemic has revealed weaknesses in all World Health Day across the globe in an attempt to areas of society and underlined the urgency of creating help those in struggling areas gain better access to sustainable well-being societies committed to achieving crucial health provisions. equitable health now and for future generations without breaching ecological limits. World Health Day forms one part of eight official World The present design of the economy leads to an ineq- Health Organization health awareness events that take uitable distribution of income, wealth and power, with place each year. Others include World Tuberculosis too many people still living in poverty and instability. Day, World Malaria Day and World AIDS Day. A well-being economy has human well-being, equity and ecological sustainability as its goals. These goals This year’s World Health Day theme will be commemo- are translated into long-term investments, well-being rated under the theme: “Our planet, our health”. In budgets, social protection and legal and fiscal strate- the midst of a pandemic, a polluted planet, increasing gies. Breaking these cycles of destruction for the planet diseases like cancer, asthma, and heart disease, on and human health requires legislative action, corporate World Health Day 2022, the WHO will focus global at- reform and individuals to be supported and incentivised tention on urgent actions needed to keep humans and to make healthy choices. the planet healthy. It will foster a movement to create societies focused on well-being. The WHO estimates that more than 13 million deaths Shtotpusrc:/e/w: ww.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2022 9 around the world each year are due to avoidable en- ThCaobmanmguMniacahtlaiotnsi, ibsaaseSdpeinciEacliost:GIlnatdeernsal CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE

South africa is no longer in a state of disaster by Government Communication Information System CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE 10



THE FUN PAGE This week we take a humorous look at, autumn. 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]