View the June/July 2010 edition of Infocom by clicking on the following link:  infocom june july 2010.pdf

Simon Taylor, Noel Pearse both from Rhodes Investec Business School,
with Brand Pretorius, Owen Skae (RIBS) and Kevin Hustler, PERCCI CEO.

Effective leadership and the current lack thereof is a hot topic and recently Brand Pretorius, McCarthy Holdings chief executive, stated that South Africa is currently in a leadership vacuum and in dire need of visionary and inspirational leaders – specifically servant leaders – to further our country to its full potential.

20 years and counting …by Sandi Johnson

Front Row: Sandi Johnson, Thando Madyibi
Jacqui Esterhuyse, Sharon Blumberg, Sophia Myburg, Diane Jerling

Credit fraud – how you can protect yourself

1.   Make sure you have your credit card on you after every transaction; and keep in it your purse

2.   When using your credit card, keep it in your sight at all times even if you have to leave the table if you’re eating out

3.   Keep your card and security number as well as the date of expiration in a safe place and NOT in your purse

4.   Compare receipts to your bank statements

5.   If you notice anything suspicious, contact your bank immediately

Dr Margo de Kooker PERCCI Health and Wellness Task Team

With the upcoming launch of the the 2^nd annual Health and Wellness awards, the focus has turned to small enterprises and NGO’s as the targets for our wellness challenge this year. The large and medium sized companies stepped up and impressed the judges with world class wellness initiatives in 2009. We all agreed that these homegrown wellness interventions were shining examples of international best practice.

Choosing a medical scheme is difficult at the best of times, but the right choice for small businesses depends on specific factors, says Charlene Schoeman, general manager of the almost 50-year-old boutique Cape Medical Plan.

By Duane Shipp – Senior Manager Tax Services Tanette Nell – Senior Director – KPMG Inc.

In keeping with the current emphasis being placed on the 2010 FIFA World Cup we would like to highlight some of the concessions available on the import of goods by certain qualifying persons.

As the economy is slowly gaining strength, so too has the property market. Banks and financial institutions however, have not let up on their stringent lending criteria and many are hoping for this to improve in the near future, allowing consumers the ability to own their own property or fund an investment opportunity. Developers are drawing their attention to areas where municipal services are already available, specifically for big housing developments, saving the cost of bringing in the supply. Warren Jack of Warren Jack Property Group commented that government intervention could assist in areas of finance and electricity supplies for new developments.  

By David Honeball – Tax Partner – BDO Incorporated

Following Pravin Gordhan’s budget speech, we can be under no illusion that our country’s deficit needs to be funded in some way or another. It would seem that SARS are also trying to manage their cash flow more effectively. The state’s fiscal year ends on 31 March and typically we see a slow-down in the payment of large refunds at this time of the year.

Rain and wind could not keep PERCCI supporters off the golf course in this year’s golf day. We would like to thank everyone who played a part in this day – especially to our sponsors and 36 teams who took part.

       
The winning team from Volkswagen South Africa     Second place - SABC

         
Third place - The Willows                                                      Fourth place - Rio Tinto Alcan

         
Fifth place - Bridgestone                                                        Sixth place - Standard Bank

         
Seventh place - SA Post Office                                            Eigth place - BKB


Ninth place - SA Post Office

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is said to grow at 4% in 2010, according to forecasts made by economists at Rand Merchant Bank. In a presentation today, Ettienne le Roux – RMB chief economist – said that the future looks positive, with the GDP growth taking place over different sectors. “We do however face a two-speed world – recovery in the advanced economies will lag the experience of emerging countries.”

The new proposed National Healthcare Insurance Plan could be seen as part of these policies because it will provide to everyone in the country. Yes, it has received varied reactions ranging from praise to condemnation. While the plan seems valid in promoting the realisation of the right to healthcare for everyone, many have pointed out that this is what the current government system should in fact be doing for the communities unable to afford a good healthcare plan. Many, therefore, are against it as a direct result of the already lacking health system.

According to a legal brief by Neil Kirby, director of Werksmans Incorporating, the NHI is to be ‘introduced to address the imbalances of human resources and the finances between respective health care sectors in South Africa; to address the imbalances and to transform the health system into an integrated, prepayment-based health financing system that effectively promotes the progressive realisation of the right to healthcare for all’.

Did you know

95% of the world’s mohair is exported through the Port Elizabeth harbour and the question is whether members of the business community fully understand what this could mean for our economy and whether we should be investing more in this industry. While much of the media shine is on the automotive sector as the biggest employment sector and economic contributor, we tend to forget that South Africa is the mohair capital of the world – a fact we need to capitalise on soon.

Taxation law amendments Act 17 of 2009

By Duane Shipp – Senior Manager Corporate Tax – KPMG

Tanette Nel – Associate Director – Tax – KPMG  

We have touched on this before in an earlier article but have found that a large number of employers and employees are unaware of these changes which will be effective from 1 March 2010. We will discuss the amendment in more detail and look at the effect for employers and employees.

Focus on the communications sector

The way we communicate with each other determines the kind of relationship that will grow. If your business doesn’t have effective communication skills and tools at hand, the business can’t go forward. You have to equip your staff with the right message to send out and to do this, you need some help. The Business Chamber has a number of members who provide services such as advertising and media strategies, public relations campaigns and innovative communication technology. The trick to creating a good public image is to understand the complexities of the public opinion and how to influence it. Read further as some of our members help us to understand the challenges and opportunities within the communications sector. 

Helping to keep your business running smoothly

The day to day running of an office can only be successful with the help of a variety of service providers – the IT guy who comes in as soon as you’ve phoned; the technician to stop the photocopier swallowing your printing; the technician to sort out the server issue you have and the list goes on and on. We spoke to a few people within this industry to find out their challenges and business ideas.

Recent appointments

JP Roodt

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Business School (NMMU) Head of Marketing and Corporate Relations - Graduate School and Leadership Academy

As a former NMMU graduate, Roodt is an award-winning marketing communications and national public relations professional who has held the position of senior associate and headed the business/finance and marketing/media client divisions of one of Africa’s most awarded and respected public relations and communications consultancy firms – Marcus Brewster – at the agency’s head office in Cape Town.

By David Honeyball – Tax Partner – BDO Incorporated

If you are a budding entrepreneur or work in a business that invents products and solutions, it is worth looking at some of the allowances that are available to your business in the form of tax deductions. Over the years SARS has relaxed their policy toward tax deductions for research and development, probably with the hope of stimulating economic growth in the country.

Creating a synergistic working environment

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.
- Henry Ford

Teambuilding, motivational activities and coaching have been proven to create a more synergistic working environment through improving staff morale, and after the leaner processes put in place during the recent recession, companies may want to consider placing special focus on uplifting employees as we head into 2010.

The global burden of cancer has more than doubled during the past 30 years

World Cancer Day was commemorated on the 4th February. There are few people in this day and age whose lives have not directly or indirectly been influenced by cancer in some or other way.

Pravin Gordhan's first budget proides little relief for taxpayers

South Africa’s public debt is expected to rise from 23% of GDP in 2008/2009 to about 40% in 2015 and it seems that government are set to fund their spending by increased debt

The future of energy production

http://www.ontariosolarfarms.com/images/solar-farm.jpg

Solar energy has been proven to significantly improve the energy needs and usage of areas across the globe, and because South Africa also has vast open areas of land, it’s logic for companies in the energy field to start considering developments such as this. Africa’s Energy Footprint has engaged other stakeholders regarding the development of solar farms in the Eastern Cape because of the enormous potential regarding investment opportunities and job creation.

Conserving natural resources

By Duane Shipp – Senior Manager Corporate Tax – KPMG
Tanette Nel – Associate Director – Tax – KPMG  

News snippets from the Bay

Don’t miss the next 2010 Business Briefing where Rory Steyn – owner of South Africa’s largest executive protection employer – will brief business on safety and security for 2010. The Chamber and the Businesswomen’s Assocation have joined to bring you this informative coffee morning to be held at the stadium so that everyone can get into the soccer vibe ahead of the World Cup start in June. For more information, contact the Chamber events department on 041 373 1122
   

Sandra Pow Chong
Communications Intern

Graduating from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) this year with a journalism diploma to her name, Sandra is furthering her journalism and broadcast dreams through her internship here within the communications team, as well as radio presenting daily on the KFC Goodmorning Show on Kingfisher FM.



Lesley Domingo
Events intern

Assisting in the events team, Lesley majored in public relations, design and English during her BA degree in media, communications and culture at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and is looking forward to a year of learning at the Chamber.

At the Cape Medical Plan (CMP) Health Day held on 26 August, Elsabé Klinck of Benguela Health addressed a number of members and staff regarding the government's proposed NHI system. 

South Africa has some wonderful inspirational individuals who are successful in assisting you in developing yourself, your career and your financial status.  The sphere of Personal Development is increasingly under the spotlight as people realise that attitude comes from within.