Weekly Highlights 28 July 2023

Weekly Highlights 28 July 2023 - Issue No. 195 RAF Language Unit Celebrates the Decade of Indigenous Languages Xitsonga Proverb of the Week ‘Ku tlula ka mhala swi letela n’wana wa le ndzeni.’ Translation: A tree is known by its fruit. Meaning: People are known by their character and actions (and not by their appearance). In this issue Dear Colleagues New Arrivals At the RAF LIBRARY International Friendship Day, celebrated on 30th July each year, presents an excellent opportunity to foster a sense Fraud Awareness: eight Features of the Fraud of camaraderie and connection among colleagues in the and Ethics Hotline workplace. THE MAILROOM DOCTOR IS OFF TO SWITZERLAND This special day goes beyond being a global observance; it holds significant meaning, even within the walls of our DEALING WITH CHANGE workplaces. As we celebrate the International Day of Friendship in the office, we have a unique opportunity to RAF online job opportunities build genuine connections among colleagues, break down barriers, and create a harmonious work environment. Mandela Day activities — Highlights For us at the Road Accident Fund, Compassion and road safety activations Empathy are part of our core organisational values. Given the life challenges that many of our colleagues Fun Page experience daily, these values call on us to offer support and assistance to one another when the need arises. As Letters to the Editor employees spend a significant amount of time at work, it becomes crucial for our workspaces to be made up of We invite our readers to share their people who bring smiles, motivation, and cheer; that’s the comments, feedback, and suggestions kind of environment we should strive to create at the RAF. with us. Readers are encouraged to submit their letters, of no more than 200 words, to So, RAFzins, on this International Friendship Day, let’s be [email protected], [email protected] there for one another by simply being present or lending a and [email protected]. We are looking sympathetic ear. forward to hearing from you. Enjoy this week’s Highlights! Editor: Thabang Mahlatsi ([email protected]) Sub-editor: Tholakele Radebe ([email protected]) Kind regards Senior Reporter: Naziphi Mpokela ([email protected]) Editor-In-Chief: Anton Janse van Rensburg ([email protected]) Internal Communication

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THE MAILROOM DOCTOR IS OFF TO SWITZERLAND by Vanessa Mathope Sometime last year Professor Mamokgethi Phak- last year in the Weekly Highlights they could have eng posted this on LinkedIn: “Those of us in po- said “NO” because I am always very upfront about my sitions of power should be willing to invest our reputation. I must confess, although I have now lost time in supporting those who are willing to be the count of the number of articles that I have written for the ‘right people’. Don’t always look for the finished Weekly Highlights, every time I submitted an article, I product, get involved in the process of creating held my breath thinking it could be my last one. I am an the right people.” When I saw this post last year, I emotional writer who finds inspiration in real-life events. didn’t make much of it until Saturday, 22 July 2023 Therefore, as much as my articles are authentic and when I received an email informing me that I had truthful, they are not for the faint-hearted. Hence, I have been selected to participate in an international been holding my breath since Friday, 04 February 2022 exchange visit to the University of Basel in Switzer- when my first-ever article was published in the Weekly land. This visit forms part of the University of South Highlights. Africa’s (UNISA’s) International Student Exchange Programme. The visit will take place from 17 to 27 I just find it weird that the things that get me into trouble September 2023. here at the RAF are seen as good research in the academic space. Anyway, I am happy and grateful that I am going to eat good chocolate in Switzerland due to our lack of records management awareness at the RAF. Now, RAFzins might be wondering what’s so special about the research that is taking me to Switzerland. On page 37 of the RAF’s 2008 Annual Report, it reads, “Fineos was also already in use by the RAF’s coun- terparts in Australia (Transport Accident Corporation) and New Zealand (Accident Compensation Commis- sioners).Since the RAF compares itself to its counter- parts in Australia and New Zealand, then the research conducted in the institution should reflect international standards. This means the RAF’s current record-keep- ing processes can be researched using criteria found in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 15489-1:2016), which the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa (NARSSA) endorses. Hence, people in Switzerland are intrigued by a study titled “Adoption of Artificial Intelligence to Manage Re- cords in Support of the Claims Management System in the Road Accident Fund in South Africa. ” When I received the email with the good news, I felt a Continues to the next page 3 deep sense of gratitude to the Weekly Highlights team, especially Anton Janse van Rensburg, the Manager of Internal Communication. Full disclaimer: I haven’t even met Anton in person, but he took a chance on me. In fact, the whole Weekly Highlights team did. When I proposed the “Getting to Know the Registry” feature CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE

THE MAILROOM DOCTOR IS OFF TO SWITZERLAND (cont.) the University of Johannesburg (UJ) firmly says, “Those who do not read should not lead.” I agree with him because I have become a Weekly Highlights success story because Anton and the team provided me with an opportunity to create a reading culture in the RAF. Before I become an international sensation, I need to say thank you to Anton, Tholakele Thola Radebe, Tha- bang Mahlatsi, Zamantimande Zama Ledwaba (shame, this girl is always putting out fires for me and taking one for the team, thank you, Mma (Mrs) Ledwaba). I am aware that people like finished products but don’t like getting involved in the process of creating the right people, but you guys saw something in me that I didn’t even know I had. For that, I will forever be grateful to be Vanessa from the Weekly Highlights. I don’t think you guys understand the confidence that came with my Weekly Highlights fame. But I’m sure Zama will find the strength one day to tell you all about it over a glass of wine or something stronger. The mailroom doc- tor is off to Switzerland now. A standing ovation to the Weekly Highlights team for creating an award-winning researcher, and now an International Student Exchange Programme participant. CHEERS TO MY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FAMILY WHO TOOK A CHANCE ON VANESSA FROM THE MAILROOM! Furthermore, this Annual Report reveals that a Claims TVlesioaahtnxcmneinneagtowdeenepInhinsnt.centesrdethsMUtaars,senv.a,bhrjufeeTyironeaontvleaauansreyfakwrlrodortatesnoyhrfuCastgecuercfaomylhelsaetkmdttehrottrireaewoanmmiilpnbisgieasueShkdlmbhnwenneleeedatdbeiies!tcantxfzxoaecrimdteplk-noi-reltosje--ro-diy- Management Solution, Fineos, was used by other or- ganisations that performed similar functions as the RAF and was implemented in the 2008 financial year (RAF 2008:36). Fineos was supposed to drive the core busi- ness of claims administration, fast forward to 2023 the RAF is still operating similarly to paper-based law firms with manual files containing evidence of accident inju- ries. Research shows that the world is now in the fifth industrial revolution (5IR). However, claims are still pro- cessed manually in the RAF. I doubt this is how things are done by the RAF’s counterparts, Transport Accident Corporation and Accident Compensation Commission- ers. Full disclaimer: I was not even an RAF employee when Fineos was adopted, it was my second year out of high school. But I know all this because I read the RAF’s Annual Reports from the year 2002 to date. Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, former Vice Chancellor of CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Vanessa Mathope is a Registration Officer based in Menlyn 4

DEALING WITH CHANGE by Tholakele Radebe We all go through different types of changes in our lives from the moment we are born to when we take our last breath. Change is inevitable and how we cope with it determines the path forward. Every- thing around us changes. Even the very natural en- vironment that we live in changes all the time. What has been the norm for a very long time can change in the blink of an eye. As Heraclitus, an ancient Greek philosopher, once said, “The only constant in life is change.” overcome me I wouldn’t have had the opportunities I have now which came with making the big change in my life. So, as you can see from my story above, some changes are not bad at all. When we are faced with difficulties in our lives, we need At the same time, we cannot look only on the bright to make some changes to get out of them. For instance, side of change and totally ignore that sometimes when some people will always complain about their jobs, their it is sudden, and we are adequately prepared, it can salaries, their relationships, and their unhappy per- have devastating effects. Sometimes it does come with sonal lives but do nothing to change any of it. Why do negative consequences for those going through it. So, they not do anything to change their lives for the better what are we supposed to do in such circumstances? then? Maybe it’s their fear of change, lack of motiva- That is the big question. Among other things, we can tion, lack of resources to attain their goals or any other make new plans to take us forward and to change reasons. I believe though that it’s worth trying to change things for the better for ourselves. Things do happen your circumstances for the better. There’s a saying that and we just have to take them in our stride and make goes, “God helps those who help themselves,” and that the best of the negative circumstances to work to our always works to motivate anyone who is serious about advantage. I believe somewhat in the power of posi- changing their lives for the better. tive thinking but not to the extent of being unrealistic and believing that optimistic thoughts and attitudes Change can be either good or bad depending on one’s alone will always make things right. Some might call it circumstances and our own perceptions of the situation motivational mumbo jumbo, but it has its advantages. at hand. Sometimes we might think change is bad when Yes, we have to think positively but also take the neces- we are fearful of what is going to happen next and sary steps to make concrete plans and carry them out uncertain of the future, only to find out that things were to mitigate the negative changes and achieve what we going to change for the better for us or they were not have set out to achieve in our lives. going to be that bad even if we have gone through the change. For instance, when I resigned from my first job, So, change will always be all around us whether we I was apprehensive about the change that was happen- like it or not. What matters the most is how we deal with ing. Also, it didn’t help matters when my former col- it either to embrace new opportunities or protect our- leagues advised me against leaving a job I had held for selves from its possible negative effects. a long time which had guaranteed job security and the comfort of familiarity for something completely different. Despite all the negative voices around me, I decided to resign from my old job. And the new job I took turned out to be such a blessing and changed my life for the better. Looking back now I realise that had I let fear CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE Tholakele Radebe is a Copy Editor based in Eco Glades 5

South African Sign Language: Our 12th Official Language by Maurice Hlangwani inclusivity and substantial equality, eliminating unfair discrimination on the basis of disability. Resources should be channelled towards the development of edu- cators and specialists who will provide education to the hearing-impaired. Employment opportunities existing in essential services should preferentially be allocated to suitably qualified members of this community. Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into Other nations, such as Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Uganda, law the recognition of South African Sign Language have long given legal recognition to Sign Language. (SASL) as our 12th official language in South Af- With this promulgation, South Africa will become the rica. This significant step should be embraced by 41st country in the world to elevate Sign Language all of us because the government is extending an to an official status. During the signing ceremony, the olive branch to the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing com- President did concede the slow pace at which this con- munity, which has been sidelined since the dawn of clusion was reached when he said, “It has been a long democracy. All sectors of the economy must now road to get here.” Despite the 30 years it has taken to open more opportunities that are accessible to this reach this milestone, we should show our appreciation unique linguistic community, as they are equally ca- by learning the language and hiring them in our estab- pable despite their inability to verbalise their needs lishments. and aspirations in the other 11 languages that we understand. It is now upon the Road Accident Fund to ensure that the Language Unit’s human resources include Sign Language Interpreters to ensure full compliance with the Use of Official Languages Act (Act No. 12 of 2012). This will go a long way in ensuring that excellent and ef- ficient service is extended to claimants belonging to the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community. Now that the government has taken this major step in Sources: favour of the community, it is up to the masses to take it in stride and begin learning Sign Language. Sign Lan- https://www.academia.edu/102016708/Converting_South_African_sign_ guage should be seen as a complete language with its language_to_verbal own grammar, vocabulary, phonological, and syntactic http://www.cplo.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Family-Digest- rules. We should prioritise acquiring a few rudimentary 27-October-2019.pdf#:~:text=There%20is%20growing%20legal%20 signs, such as greetings, requests, applauding, thank- recognition%20of%20sign%20languages,to%20sign%20language%20 ing, and so on. We have time on our side to learn, and include%20Kenya%2C%20Uganda%20and%20Zimbabwe. the circumstances allow us to take baby steps and https://www.thepresidency.gov.za/speeches/remarks-president-cyril- acquire this scarce linguistic resource. Let us add this ramaphosa-signing-ceremony-south-african-sign-language-bill%2C- valuable communication tool to the repertoire of lan- union-buildings%2C-tshwane guages in which we express ourselves so that when any other spoken language fails us, Sign Language Maurice Hlangwani is a Xitsonga Language Specialist 6 becomes the solution. based in Eco Glades The amendment to section 6 of the Constitution, which deals with languages, should embolden both the pub- lic and private sectors to tap into the Deaf and Hard- of-Hearing community in a manner that will hasten CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE

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Mandela Day activities — Highlights by The Cape Town Region Mandela Day Garden Project Venue: St. Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric Care Facility, Montana, Cape Town Date: 21 July 2023 CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE 8

road safety activations by The Johannesburg Region Marketing Unit Open Day and Stakeholder Engagement Session Venue: Thembisa Hospital, Olifantsfontein, Johannesburg, Gauteng Date: 21 July 2023 CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE 9

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THE FUN PAGE As we are looking forward to celebrate International Friendship Day, we take a look at the humorous side of friendship. We hope you enjoy it! 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]