THE POWER OF NETWORKING - PART 59

THE POWER OF NETWORKING

PART 59

By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC

How about knowing your purpose? Do you know your purpose? Don’t for a minute get confused! Knowing who you are and knowing your purpose are two very different things.

If you don’t know your purpose, it will be extremely difficult to get other people to understand what it is that you are selling and/or what assistance it is that you need from them.

Knowing your purpose is more about knowing what you want to achieve for . . . others. Those others could be your clients, your friends and your family. So – do you know what you want to achieve for others on a daily basis?

It’s about knowing what you would do if you didn’t have to work. Think about that for a moment . . . if you didn’t have to work, what would you do? Would you still be the same person that you are right now, or would you do a 180 degree turnabout and become someone completely different. You may become someone who no longer treats people with dignity and respect – you may become the second Mother Theresa or guess what, you may continue to be the person that everyone has come to love, because having money and not having to work, may actually leave you as the person you are now.

Knowing your purpose means that in all probability, you will leave your mark on this world when you leave it one day. So what is your legacy? What will your children and friends say that you have achieved in your life time and will they even know?

For me, knowing your purpose means that you have to have some idea about who you are and what it is that you are doing here, in this life time, before you can start telling people who you think they are?

It’s about accepting some things because, they just are and it’s about making a concerted effort to change the things that need to be changed in your life and thereby changing the things in your world that need to be changed. It’s about quietly going about your business and making a difference.

It’s about challenging myself to be all that I can be, rather than all that everyone else thinks I should be.

It’s about being true to myself.

It’s about being me . . .

So, how about it then, do you know your purpose?

Nikki Viljoen is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist and she can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za.

HELPING A FRIEND SHOULDN'T MEAN CRISIS

Spot on Tessa! The other thing that I often hear is "Why me"! In my usual, very tactful way - I always reply "Well why not you?" or my other favorite "Because it was your turn!" - well that's just me, but I do like that "it's because we were facing in the wrong direction."

Well done on another great insightfull article!

Helping a friend shouldn't mean crisis
Tessa Silberbauer
24 January 2007 at 11h00

For this week I want to share a little of my own story. Not because I did anything unusual, but because it illustrates the point I want to cover. A few years ago, a friend of mine was in trouble and needed help. I had the ability and resources to do so, and so naturally I offered, even though the timing was a little unfortunate for me. I ran into some problems as a result.

Several months ago, a similar situation arose when another friend with unfortunate timing but different circumstances, needed help. This time, I was able to contribute to a happier result as well as showing support.

This is not unusual. Anyone would do the same if they had the energy and resources to help out. What is important is that I knew, before I offered my help, that it would take a fair amount of time. A few years ago, I would have gone ahead and done it anyway. But the younger me would have forgotten my other responsibilities and made trouble for myself. This time, I made a plan to cope with the schedule changes as well as dealing with my friend's problem. The outcome was that I never felt resentment, or anger at myself for creating the inconvenience. Of course the irony is that I also realised the differences in the way I'd acted much later.

No matter how aware we try to be, the real changes often occur so subtly that we miss them - and miss out on acknowledging an improvement. But that's another article. This month I have been focusing on creating realistic goals - modified New Year's resolutions that stand a chance of succeeding.

But no matter how well you plan things, life does get in the way. It is inhuman to expect ourselves to foresee everything. Every action we take or avoid is a choice. When things change, we could choose to do what "Younger Me" used to: spend time bemoaning the change, being angry about it, fighting it, and finally trying to find a way to deal with it. Or we could choose to accept the fact immediately, and look at our plans to see what needs to be adjusted as a result.The difference is small, but profound.

We still suffer inconveniences. We still don't get everything going our way. But we own the fact, and we lessen our own discomfort, anger and fear levels as a result. How many times do you hear yourself, or someone else, say: "I should have seen this coming?"

There is a reason for everything. The reason we don't see things coming is because we aren't looking in that direction. Most of the time, this is because there are so many other pressing issues that hold our attention. There is only so much that you can pay attention to at one time.

So, right now, at the beginning of the year, accept that you will be blindsided by at least one large issue and many other smaller urgent situations during the next year. There is no fault or blame there, it is a simple fact of life. But the size of the crisis that results depends on your reactions to them. When changes happen, promise yourself to devote a small amount of attention to what adaptations you need to make in your personal targets - start practising now, with the trivial surprises.

Tessa Silberbauer is a Johannesburg-based life management trainer. For information, corporate training or private consulting, contact her on 083 310 0955 or at livingskills@webmail.co.za

MOTIVATION - SHARING LIFE

MOTIVATION – SHARING LIFE


By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC


Today’s quote comes from Erin Majors, who says:


“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”


This is so true of so much in life. I am often astounded at how incredibly scared (or perhaps selfish is the right word) people are to share, especially in the business world. It’s almost as if, people are scared to give someone a helping hand because that may mean that they will lose out on the deal. How bizarre! To my mind, sharing something with someone, just makes my business just that much stronger – pretty much I guess, like the brighter light of two candles as apposed to just one. Yet many people look at me, with a really puzzled expression on their faces when I ask “How may I be of assistance to you?” Strange that don’t you think?

Then of course, you have those individuals who ‘help’ others, but only with some sort of hidden agenda, or a ‘what’s in it for me’! I must say, I really don’t get that one – because sooner or later, any deviousness will come out, and usually when you least expect it! Why does there always have to be some sort of ‘pay off’?

For me the Universe, is a really, really fun place. I have been helped along this pathway of life, many times by complete strangers. People, whose names I never even got to know and thankfully, I have been in a position to help some along the way – again often people whose names I never got to know and quite honestly it gave me a great sense of satisfaction. I was giving back you see – giving back to the Universe that has given so much to me.

Oh, don’t get me wrong – I’m not talking about people, who only have one purpose in life, and that is to get as much as they can out of somebody, whilst giving as little as they can in return! I’m not talking about the people who make a career out taking anything and everything that they can. I am not talking about the people who continually whine and moan about how badly life has treated them and how all they need is a little bit of help and then sit on their fat backsides and do nothing for themselves, whilst all around them people running around frenetically, doing everything for them!

I’m talking about empowering people to do for themselves, just like a candle – once lit – burns for itself. Sometimes people just need a helping hand to steer them in the right direction or a little advice or a word of encouragement.

So what kind of person are you? Do you give back to life or are you the person that just takes from it?
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za.

THIS KIND OF THING HAS GOT TO STOP IN OUR COUNTRY!

This is yesterday's blog - hope you enjoy the funnies!

THIS KIND OF STUFF HAS GOT TO STOP IN OUR COUNTRY!

We Must Stop This Immediately! Have you noticed that stairs are getting steeper. Groceries are heavier. And, everything is farther away. Yesterday I walked to the corner and I was dumbfounded to discover how long our street has become! This extension work was apparently done at night!! Very sneaky stuff..

And, you know, people are less considerate now, especially the youngsters. They speak in whispers all the time! If you ask them to speak up they just keep repeating themselves, endlessly mouthing the same silent message until they're red in the face! What do they think I am, a lip reader? I also think they are much younger than I was at the same age.

On the other hand, people my own age are so much older than I am. I ran into an old friend the other day, and she has aged so much that she didn't even recognize me. I got to thinking about the poor dear while I was combing my hair this morning, and in doing so, I glanced at my own refection........

Well, REALLY NOW- even mirrors are not made the way they used to be!

Another thing, everyone drives so fast these days! You're risking life and limb if you happen to pull onto the freeway in front of them.. All I can say is, their brakes must wear out awfully fast, the way I see them screech and swerve in my rear view mirror.

Clothing manufacturers are less civilized these days. Why else would they suddenly start labeling a size 32 pair of pants a 42, or medium shirt as 'extra large? Do they think no one notices that these things no longer fit around the waist, hips, thighs, and neck? The people who make bathroom scales are pulling the same prank, but in reverse. Do they think I actually "believe" the number I see on that dial? Heck ! I would never let myself weigh that much! Just who do these people think they're fooling?

I'd like to call up someone in authority to report what's going on -- but the telephone company is in on the conspiracy too: they've printed the phone books in such small type that no one could ever find a number in there! All I can do is pass along this warning: We are under attack! Unless something drastic happens, pretty soon everyone will have to suffer these awful indignities.

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOUKNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN GET THIS CONSPIRACY STOPPED!

PS: I am sending this to you in a larger font size, because something has caused my computer's regular fonts to be smaller than they once were. (They must be sneaking to my house and messing around withmy computer. Probably CIA....!!!) Pretty scary stuff huh?

SILENCE SHATTERED AS SUSPECT CAUSES BIG STINK

Here is Saturday's post.

After smiling at this report, I couldn't help but wonder what would have happened here - the whole court (including the judge) would probably have burst into spontaneous laughter or some such thing!

Silence shattered as suspect causes big stink
October 11 2006 at 03:19AM

London - A suspect was slammed in the cells on Tuesday after he broke wind in a British court then burst out laughing about it. Joseph Wildy let rip and refused to apologise after he had a fit of the giggles with his co-defendants. However, magistrate Simon Bridge, sitting in Blackpool, on the north-west coast of England, was not amused by his interruption. He found Wildy in contempt of court and ordered him to be locked up.

After cooling off in the cells, Wildy returned to court 90 minutes later and apologised to Bridge. "He was laughing in court, that's why he was found in contempt," said a court spokesperson. "It was for interrupting the proceedings by laughing, and then refusing to apologise."

Wildy pleaded not guilty to handling stolen goods and was bailed to reappear at a later date at the same court. - Sapa-AFP

WHAT TO DO WHEN . . . . STAFF ARE NEGLIGENT IN THE PERFOMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES - PART 4

Here's Fridays blog

ARTICLE 4

WHAT TO DO WHEN . . . . STAFF ARE NEGLIGENT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES

PART 4

By Nikki Viljoen – N Viljoen Consulting CC - March 2008.


At the CCMA, it is now an arbitration hearing, and remember – all the evidence has to be presented by both Mike and George, all over again.

One of Mike’s witnesses (who in fact was George’s supervisor – lets call him Andrew) was very clear on the fact that George had in fact been trained and George was well aware of how to conduct the searches on staff. Andrew also stated that George had been posted to his particular position to conduct the searches and that is what George’s specific function was. Having said all of the above, Andrew did say that under normal circumstances – this function would have been carried out by someone who was more senior than George.

Although the function of searching staff, would normally be carried out by someone more senior than George, Andrew stated that the reason George had been posted to this particular position was because of the length of time he had worked in the security services division, which was the Security Division of all of Mike’s businesses. George, of course, had been with the company for about 14 years. This, meant that George had the most experience in the security arena of the company, and it was for this reason that George had been chosen for this post.

One of the senior Managers in the store (let’s call him Simon) stated that the reason that the video surveillance equipment had been installed at the exit was because of the large losses that the store was experiencing. Video surveillance had always been in the actual store itself and it had been ascertained that very little of the shrinkage was due to theft from the public. Therefore it was assumed that the staff were stealing, hence the need for the staff to be correctly searched. Simon stated that the company could be held responsible if searches were not conducted correctly as staff could bring about various charged, against the company.

It was noted at this point that the stores losses were around the R500 000 mark.

George, at this point, claimed that he had not received any training at all, in terms of the correct procedures on how to search the staff and that furthermore, he had objected to being posted to this particular position being the Staff Exit Section.

Next week we will continue with what the Commissioner at Arbitration had to say.

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za

ROAD RAGE COPS BEAT ME

Well I can't say I am surprised! Is it just me or have you folk out there also noticed that of late, that drivers have become far more aggressive and rude on the road than usual? Rules of the road and common courtesy just don't seem to exist anymore - Drivers with big cars who think that it is ok to take up two parking bays - or even two lanes as they drive in the traffic and God forbid that you should complain - they actually 'go' for you!

Or what about the busses that stop at the bus stop - but on the road side of the bus stop - not sure why they make space for the busses to get off the road when then load and disembark passengers - they simply don't use it - I guess it's easier to just let the traffic build up behind you than to get back into the traffic.

Oh and let's not forget the taxis! The latest thing is to have a line of taxis on the side of the road, and then they double up, effectively making a 3 lane road into a 1 1/2 lane road!

And now my personal favorite - the beggars at the robots! It's not enough to try and manage the absolute carnage on the roads now we have to contend with the beggars and street sellers on every intersection! Now we have chaps in wheelchairs and/or on crutches at the intersections. The wheel chairs are the worst as you can's see them in the traffic, so changing lanes becomes a nightmare!

Trying to keep your composure in amongst all of this is a real challenge!

'Road rage cops beat me'
October 26 2006 at 11:54AM


By Ryan Holland

A young driver is accusing police of assaulting him during a road rage incident in Ravensmead this week. Cheslin Claassen, 20, said he was driving his bakkie near the Ravensmead shopping centre when a police vehicle came up from behind, signalling for him to move from the right lane to the left lane. Claassen said he could not move over because another car was occupying the left lane.

'Police suspected him of driving drunk'

He said he was eventually able to move aside at a robot at the intersection of De La Ray and Industria Ring roads. When he stopped, he said the four constables got out their car and approached his bakkie at the driver's side door.


One officer apparently reached in and switched off the vehicle and another pulled Claassen from the car and threw him on the ground. Claassen said he lost consciousness during the scuffle: "I can remember being thrown down, handcuffed, and sprayed (with pepper spray), but I can't remember much after that. "I don't want to say anything that did not happen because I don't remember. But I now have cuts and bruises on my face that were not there before."Claassen said the police suspected him of driving drunk. He said he was taken to Karl Bremer Hospital for a blood-alcohol test when he regained consciousness.

Claassen said he had been at a club until 4am on Sunday, but had not had a drink for 11 hours before the incident. He was not informed of the blood test results. Police spokesperson Inspector Bernadine Steyn confirmed the arrest for driving under the influence. She said: "It is alleged the person drove recklessly when police approached him."Claassen's father, Derick, said he had picked his son up at the police station at 8pm on Sunday. He said he had lodged a complaint at the Bellville station on Monday, and was waiting to hear from the Independent Complaints Directorate. "The allegations against the officials are seen in a serious light and are being investigated internally by a senior officer at the Bellville police station," said Steyn. Claassen is to appear at the Bellville magistrate court on March 30.

This article was originally published on page 8 of Cape Argus on October 26, 2006

ROAD RAGE COPS BEAT ME

'Road rage cops beat me'
October 26 2006 at 11:54AM
By Ryan HollandA young driver is accusing police of assaulting him during a road rage incident in Ravensmead this week.Cheslin Claassen, 20, said he was driving his bakkie near the Ravensmead shopping centre when a police vehicle came up from behind, signalling for him to move from the right lane to the left lane.Claassen said he could not move over because another car was occupying the left lane.
'Police suspected him of driving drunk'He said he was eventually able to move aside at a robot at the intersection of De La Ray and Industria Ring roads.When he stopped, he said the four constables got out their car and approached his bakkie at the driver's side door.
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One officer apparently reached in and switched off the vehicle and another pulled Claassen from the car and threw him on the ground.Claassen said he lost consciousness during the scuffle: "I can remember being thrown down, handcuffed, and sprayed (with pepper spray), but I can't remember much after that."I don't want to say anything that did not happen because I don't remember. But I now have cuts and bruises on my face that were not there before."Claassen said the police suspected him of driving drunk.He said he was taken to Karl Bremer Hospital for a blood-alcohol test when he regained consciousness. Claassen said he had been at a club until 4am on Sunday, but had not had a drink for 11 hours before the incident. He was not informed of the blood test results.Police spokesperson Inspector Bernadine Steyn confirmed the arrest for driving under the influence. She said: "It is alleged the person drove recklessly when police approached him."Claassen's father, Derick, said he had picked his son up at the police station at 8pm on Sunday. He said he had lodged a complaint at the Bellville station on Monday, and was waiting to hear from the Independent Complaints Directorate. "The allegations against the officials are seen in a serious light and are being investigated internally by a senior officer at the Bellville police station," said Steyn. Claassen is to appear at the Bellville magistrate court on March 30.
This article was originally published on page 8 of Cape Argus on October 26, 2006

THE POWER OF NETWORKING - PART 58

THE POWER OF NETWORKING

PART 58

By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC

Do you know what you stand for? Well . . . . . do you?

What is it that you represent? What do you stand for? When you walk away from a conversation – do you leave a part of yourself behind? What about an e-mail or an sms – when you send one, does it contain something that reflect who you are and what you represent?

When you enter a room – do people notice you? Well . . . do they?

I’m sure you’re wondering “what’s with all of the questions?” It’s about branding who you are.

You see, I’m ‘in love’! I can just see all of you who know me, fall laughing to the ground! Ok you can get up now!

Yes I am, I am in love! I am in love with what I do. I am crazily, passionately in love with what I do - and that shows.

It shows in my energy. It shows in every conversation that I have regarding work and even if it is a conversation that has nothing to do with work - it shows. It shows because I live to do what it is that I do!

How fabulous is that!

It shows in every e-mail that I send out. I shows every time I enter a room.

It just shows!

So, I ask again – do you know what you stand for?

Nikki Viljoen is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist and she can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za.

VISHING: NEW EMAIL CON FOR BANK DETAILS

Good grief - whatever will they think of next


Vishing: New email con for bank details
Justin Cole
24 July 2006 at 04h21

Washington - Unknown fraudsters recently tried to steal bank account details from the customers of a California bank in a novel way, by sending account-holders emails asking them to telephone the bank.

Internet fraud dubbed phishing, where email recipients are directed to a fake website seeking their financial details, has been around for several years, but the California case represented the new scam of "vishing," according to government officials and security experts.

As opposed to phishing, so-called vishing relies on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony.


VoIP quirk
The perpetrators take advantage of a quirk in VoIP that allows subscribers to have a telephone number that appears to be based in a city, such as Los Angeles, even though they may be anywhere in the world.

"It's a fairly new phenomenon. We're aware of reports they have been occurring," said Lisa Hone, the assistant director of the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
The perpetrator or group behind the e-mails sent to customers of the Santa Barbara Bank and Trust in California last month have yet to be caught, but the bank has alerted its customers to the scam.

The email sent to the bank's customers preyed on potential victims by requesting they call an apparent local telephone number to clear up an account problem.

Any customers who called the telephone number would have heard a recorded message urging them to enter their account number, according to Internet security firm Websense.

Websense posted a copy of the fake email, with a link to the scam voice recording, on June 23.
Dan Hubbard, vice president for security research at Websense, said the group alerted the bank, a unit of Pacific Capital Bancorp.

Pacific Bancorp could not be reached for comment, but the bank's website has alerted its customers to the scheme.

Not as big
"It's definitely a new trend. It is growing, but it is not nearly as big as the threat of (fake) websites or criminal activity through malicious code, we're talking tens of thousands versus a handful," Hubbard said.

However, he said similar scams had been attempted against users of the online payments company PayPal, and on the online auction group eBay.

British-based Internet security firm Sophos issued an alert on July 7 about a vishing scheme targeting PayPal.

"As hackers get smarter we are likely to see them increasingly not only set up fake websites, but 'harvest' messages from corporate switchboard systems to appear even more like the legitimate company," said Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant at Sophos.

Easy setup
A VoIP-based fraud can be set up fairly simply, according to security experts. There are relatively few companies that currently offer such Internet-based telephone services, and fewer checks are generally required compared to opening an account with a traditional telephone company.

Essentially, a fraudster signs up for a VoIP account, sets up a voice mail recorded message system - mimicking that of an actual bank or other company - and then mass emails consumers urging them to call the false number.

Hone said the scam, as in the California case, can appear legitimate to unsuspecting consumers because VoIP accounts can be set up with local telephone codes of a user's choice in a variety of cities or states.

"One VoIP account can have numbers all over the country, the code makes it look more real, and setup is easy," Hone said.

Meanwhile, US banks are constantly warning customers to be careful about divulging sensitive financial information.

"I'm not aware of any particular incident. Our security people continuously monitor what's going on in the market," said a Bank of America spokesperson.

The Federal Trade Commission's Hone added some pertinent advice: "Don't call telephone numbers sent to you in unsolicited emails." - AFP

MICROSOFT WARNS OF 5 SECURITY HOLES

Good morning Bloggers - here's yesterday's post.

Microsoft warns of 5 security holes
15 November 2006 at 08h16

San Francisco - Microsoft has issued five "critical" security patches to fix flaws in its software that the company warned could allow attackers to take control of a user's computer.

Security bulletin
Microsoft, whose Windows operating system runs on 90 percent of the world's computers, issued the patches as part of its monthly security bulletin.


The world's biggest software maker defines a flaw as "critical" when the vulnerability could allow a damaging Internet worm to replicate without the user doing anything to the machine.

The company said four of the "critical" patches fixed holes in its Windows operating system. Microsoft also issued another security update for Windows it rated at the lower threat level of "important."

Core services package
The other "critical" patch targeted Microsoft's XML Core Services package.
The company has been working for more than three years to improve the security and reliability of its software as more and more malicious software target weaknesses in Windows and other Microsoft software.

The latest patches can be downloaded at http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.mspx. - Reuters

MOTIVATION - INTEGRITY

MOTIVATION - INTEGRITY

By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC


The quote today comes from the great Confucius himself, who says:


“The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”


Pretty straight forward I would say – but what kind of integrity do we have in the home? Therein lies the million dollar question!


My Concise Oxford Dictionary says that integrity is: “Wholeness, entirety, soundness, uprightness, honesty.”


Those are some ordinary words with huge meanings behind them and if we would have to live up to them or the perception of them – what would that mean in the grand scheme of things?


On a personal level, integrity means a whole bunch of things – like;Being honest about things – honest with myself, first and foremost because I cannot possibly be honest with anyone else, if I am not honest with myself!


Standing up, and being counted for what I believe in, irrespective of what the consequences to that is. Things like - I will not tolerate cruelty to animals, to children or the elderly.


When making a commitment, sticking to the terms of that commitment or the spirit of that commitment. It’s about delivering on promises. The deliverables must be met.


Giving my word – that for me is good enough because my word is my bond!


Treating people the way that I would like to be treated. So many of us have double standards. We do things, but then when others do the same thing it suddenly becomes an issue.


Being respectful of people’s time. Being late for or not pitching for appointments for me is one of the most disrespectful things that I can do to someone, the minute I know that I am going to be late or cannot make the meeting, I phone and tell the person that I am supposed to be meeting. – by not doing this, I am telling the other person that my time is far more valuable than theirs.


Then of course there is acceptance – none of us like to be judged, especially by someone who doesn’t know you at all, and yet we judge people on a daily basis, based on our perception of what and who they are. Don’t do it. You don’t have the right! We all want people to accept us for who and what we are, so how about we afford them the same consideration and respect. Accept people for who they are.


So, think about it – carefully – what is your credibility like?


Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za.

POLICE REELING AS ATTACKS ON OFFICERS MOUNT

This is absolutely crazy! Why aren't the police paid more? This just makes bribery and corruption so much easier for them to swallow. They put their lives at risk for us on a daily basis and they should be remunerated properly.

Come on Government - fair is fair!

Police reeling as attacks on officers mount

Edwin Naidu
November 12 2006 at 11:25AM

The police are buckling under the pressure of a shocking increase in the number of attacks on police officers. The SAPS's recently released annual report reveals that attacks on police officers went up by 76,7 percent to 1 274 during 2005 to 2006, compared with 721 attacks in the previous 12 months.

This increase in attacks on police officers is the highest in five years. Compounding the stress on the force were the high annual murder rate of police officers, poor pay, uncertainty over the future and their unrelenting exposure to gruesome crimes, said Bilkis Omar, the senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria.

The annual report said 585 police officers had been murdered in the past five years, 95 of them in the past year. Most of those killed were not on duty.

'Most of the deaths were stress-related'

The men and women were murdered despite increased efforts to improve police officers' vigilance and the training they were given on how to respond to dangerous situations. Omar said stress had resulted in a high number of police officers committing suicide.

Charles Nqakula, the minister of safety and security, told parliament recently that, between 1998 and 2002, 508 officers took their own lives."Most of the deaths were stress-related," Omar said. She said police officers often refused trauma counselling in a display of macho bravado, because the counselling was not confidential and because of fears that the cost of counselling would exhaust the benefits allowance of their medical-aid scheme.

Omar said public-service regulations obliged the SAPS to help police officers when they had dealt with trauma-inducing incidents, such as the rape of a young child. Those traumatised should be debriefed by their commanders and then offered counselling, she said.

'police officers often refuse trauma counselling'

But because the debriefing was not compulsory many officers did not take advantage of it. "Debriefing is a serious challenge for the police, given the high crime rate," she said. Omar said the police had faced many challenges during the past 12 years, including having to deal with the transformation of the apartheid SAP into today's SAPS, affirmative action and the continuing restructuring of the service.

The police feel that they are poorly paid and unappreciated by the government, and the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union criticised a claim by Trevor Manuel, the minister of finance, who said on Tuesday that the police were fairly paid. The union said the salary for entry-level police officers was R5 740 a month.

Several police officers told The Sunday Independent that the minister spoke from a position of privilege. "Manuel does not have to survive on less than R5 000 a month. We have families to feed and children to send to school on the amount he probably spends on groceries," said a frustrated Johannesburg police officer.

A senior police official confirmed that stress was hampering the police, despite programmes to help them deal with it. "We have a problem but we are tackling it vigorously," she said. The attacks on, and murders of, police officers continue. Most of the increase in the number of attacks on police officers could be due to the increase in rioting in protest against tardy service delivery to poor communities, the police annual report said.

Most attacks on police officers occurred while they were pursuing suspects and making arrests. Research, according to the police, did not support the view that police officers were most often killed for their firearms, or that there was a connection between police corruption and police murders."When police officers are off duty, they are at greater risk of being killed because they are not usually wearing their bullet-proof vests and they are less vigilant than when they are on duty," the report said.

Trevor Bloem, the spokesperson for Nqakula, said counselling services for police officers were under-utilised because of the belief that accepting counselling was a sign of weakness and would be prejudicial to prospects for promotion. Bloem said that, despite training programmes to make the police more streetwise in countering attacks, the number of attacks had risen. But, he said, there had been a decline in police murders, which suggested that the training was having an effect.In 2001 to 2002, 139 police officers were killed and the following year 150, but during the past three years the numbers had come down from 108 to 94 and 95.

This article was originally published on page 1 of Sunday Independent on November 12, 2006

WHAT TO DO WHEN . . . . STAFF ARE NEGLIGENT IN THE PERFOMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES - PART 3

ARTICLE 4

WHAT TO DO WHEN . . . . STAFF ARE NEGLIGENT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES

PART 3

By Nikki Viljoen – N Viljoen Consulting CC - March 2008.

So here we are on the brink of an Appeal Hearing. George has decided that he has been unfairly dismissed and he has lodged a formal request for an appeal hearing, which of course is his right.

A senior staff member has been called in to chair the hearing (the chairman of the dismissal disciplinary cannot chair the appeal hearing), let’s call him Steve.

Steve had a look at all the material that had been presented at the disciplinary and he decided that because George had not been charged with dishonesty and because there had been no stock losses (although remember at this point that was purely supposition), that this information was irrelevant to the case as George had been charged for being negligent because he did not follow procedures – he had not been charged for dishonesty.

Steve did think that it was important though that because procedures had not been correctly followed, Mike could have suffered losses.

Steve diligently looked for an alternative decision to the one of dismissal, but could not find any solution that would be appropriate – therefore the decision of ‘dismissal’ was upheld, and the appeal was dismissed.

So that gives up the background to why this particular case was lodged at the CCMA.

For the record, an arbitration proceeding done as CCMA level is done as a ‘de novo’ hearing.

What this means is that it becomes a completely new case and/or hearing. It is not a re-hearing or a re-proceeding of the employer’s (Mike’s) disciplinary procedure. Nothing that happened at the George’s hearing or even the appeal hearing is taken into consideration – it’s as if it never happened. It is a completely new hearing, on a new page, with a clean slate.

Therefore only the evidence that is presented at the arbitration hearing is taken into consideration – not any of the evidence that was presented at George’s “company” hearing. This is very important to remember!

Next week we will continue with what happens.

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za

Ok, well someone has to say it! Parents today abdicate so much of their responsibility. When I was a kid growing up, my parents did not do my projects for me - their take on that was, they had their education, it wouldn't help me if they did the project. My teachers did not copy all the notes on a given subject for me to glue into my school book - they would give me the names of the books to read to find the information that was required and it was up to me to find the information and make my own notes. My mother did not 'cover' my books for me - she provided the paper, the plastic and the sellotape - I had to cover my own books.

The amount of TV that I was allowed to watch was limited and I was encouraged to go outside and play. I was encouraged to read and as a result my imagination was developed.

The difference today, is that I can think for myself and I have a measure of 'common sense'! Common sense to me today, is an extremely rare commodity and I believe it is because children are not encouraged to think for themselves!

Today parents expect the school staff to rear their children. All the important bits, like sex education, moral values, and even the 'dangers' that lurk out there (none of which, sadly, are new) become someone else's responsibility.

For goodness sake, set the bounderies. Tell your children what is and what isn't acceptable and punish them if they over step those boundries. You are not doing them any favours if you don't because life itself has consequences and it is your job as parents, to protect your children and prepare them for life.

As for the shop owner in this story - get real! If your sales are dropping, because your staff are not performing - don't blame MXIT - blame yourself. Kick his/her arse and tell them to get on with it - if they want to play with MXIT in their time - there is nothing you can do about it - but office hours are your time! Either they perform or they leave - it's their decision!

MXit creator takes parents to task
August 28 2006 at 01:09PM
By Candes Keating

Parents should take responsibility for their children using MXit, says Herman Heunis, the creator of the instant cellphone messaging program. The Cape Argus reported on pupils addicted to the service, spending hours on MXit, last week. One school began a support group for pupils hooked on MXit, while others banned cellphones. Heunis said he knew of children who spent hours on Mxit and said it was "not healthy".

'People don't always have access to a computer, so they Mxit'

"We do not advocate or condone the use of cellphones during school hours or when children should be doing home-work," he said. Heunis said parents should talk to their children about their use of MXit. He also said MXit was a "positive" service because it provided a cost-effective way for people to communicate.

He said the program could not control what people chatted about, but there were warnings on the website where users had to register. MXit was not "in any way associated or connected to porn", said Heunis.

Desiree Lang, a mother of three teenagers, urged parents to set rules around MXit, instead of banning it. She had set down guidelines earlier this year, when she found out her three teenagers were on Mxit. "I told them they can only talk to cousins and friends, no illegal sites and no using it at school," she said. "My children speak to their cousins in Port Elizabeth all the time on MXit.

This means I'm saving on telephone costs. I believe communication with our children is key to helping them make the right choices." Lang said her children were not allowed to MXit for several days if they transgressed the rules. Celeste Scott said she had also set MXit rules with her two children. In order to use MXit, users must subscribe to the services via the Internet and can then chat to people they know or do not know. Those they know can be added to their Mxit contact lists.

Scott, who also uses the service, added her son as a contact so that she can check up on his MXit activities."If I see that he goes in at a time that he should not be on, I send him a message to tell him to log off. He is only allowed to go on when he is at home and only after homework and supper is finished," she said. "Parents must keep a check all the time," she said.

Scott said that if MXit was used "correctly," there would not be any problems. Grade 10 pupil Ferila Devries said she used MXit to chat to friends: "I believe it is how it is used which determines danger. If you talk to someone you don't know, you put yourself in danger." Rafiq Phillips, who runs IDrive, a driving school Internet search engine, said he used MXit for business purposes. He said he provided learners with driver advice, information and support via MXit."People don't always have access to a computer, so they MXit," he said.

"We are one of the first companies to use MXit in this way," he said. His company has recently been nominated for a youth innovation award. But Salie Madalie, a single father of six, said three of his teenagers were "hooked" on MXit and, despite setting rules, he was battling to get them to pay attention to school and housework. "They must really find a way to put a stop to MXit," he said.

A shop owner in Tableview who does not want to be named said one of her employees was "hooked" on MXit. "We are losing quite a lot of sales because he spends all his time on MXit."

This article was originally published on page 5 of Cape Argus on August 28, 2006

THE POWER OF NETWORKING - PART 57

THE POWER OF NETWORKING

PART 57

By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC

Do you focus enough on you? Strange question you may think, but here’s the thing.

It is always a good thing to focus on the other person at the right time, in fact it is critical to focus on the other person at the right time. Having said that, first of all you need to understand yourself. You need to understand who you are, what the difference is that you make. What it is that you do, how you do it and why other people need it. You need to understand that you credibility needs to be intact and that you can and do meet the deliverable requirements.

Nick Heap calls this Your Core Process, whilst Roger Hamilton calls this “Being in your flow”. Penny Power who is the founder of Ecademy (www.ecademy.com) calls this Emotional Understanding of your Self, your Emotional Wealth.

Whatever you call it, it needs to be done and established before you start networking, or enter into any kind of networking discussion with anyone – if you want to come across as a ‘real’ person or the genuine article.

So take some time out, sit down with yourself and have a ‘heart to heart’. Ask yourself the question – who are you? What difference do you make, and if you don’t know, ask yourself what difference is it that you would like to make? Be honest with yourself (and that does not mean that you have to beat yourself up). Set yourself some realistic goals and when you know which direction it is that you are going in – so will the people that you engage with, believe me!

The time that you invest in yourself, will always yield far greater returns than the time that you don’t.

Nikki Viljoen is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist and she can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za.

MAYOR'S OFFICE SWEPT AGAIN TO 'CLEAR UP SAGA'

Oh dear! Must have been a slow news day! I can't for the life of me understand what all the hoo haa is about though! So the office got swept, so what! Talk about paranoia!

Mayor's office swept again 'to clear up saga'
Carvin Goldstone
February 19 2007 at 07:01AM

The National Intelligence Agency swept eThekwini Mayor Obed Mlaba's office at the Durban City Hall again last week "to clear up any controversy and insinuations" that there had been ulterior motives in the first sweep of his office in January.

There was an outcry from Mlaba when he walked in on four NIA officials sweeping his office for surveillance devices. He had not been informed of the sweep. The offices of Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo, Senior Manager S'the Mshengu and Speaker James Nxumalo had also been swept by the NIA.

Mshengu replied to Mlaba's queries that he had only been informed about the sweep an hour before the NIA officials arrived.


But the NIA argued that they would only sweep a government office at the request of the government entity. Following several media reports on the matter, Mlaba called a press conference at which he said his main concern was not who had ordered the sweep, but that he had not been informed why it was to be done. Following Mlaba's reaction last week, Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils instituted an investigation into the incident.

A senior NIA investigator was dispatched to Durban to find out why the occupants of the offices that had been swept had not been informed. NIA spokesperson Lorna Daniels said now that the investigation was concluded, Kasrils was satisfied that there had been no ulterior motives."It is clear that there was a regrettable lapse of communication between the NIA and the mayor's office.

A second sweep at the mayor's office was conducted (last) week to remove any doubt or concern that may have arisen following the incident," she said. Daniels said that the NIA and the municipality were satisfied that all was in order and considered the matter closed. Mshengu and Municipal Manager Michael Sutcliffe were reluctant to confirm the second sweep. Sutcliffe said he did not consider the sweeps a matter to be discussed.

This article was originally published on page 3 of The Mercury on February 19, 2007

MOTIVATION - CONTROLLING FEAR

MOTIVATION – CONTROLLING FEAR

By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC

Today’s quote comes from Marilyn C Barrick, who says:

“For the most part, fear is nothing but an illusion. When you share it with someone else, it tends to disappear.”

How fabulous is that? I think it’s marvelous – the only problem of course is that we have to get over our own selves and our own egos and our own pride and our own lack of self esteem and of course our own . . . . . fear!

Fear of what other’s may think of us,
Fear of how others may see us
Fear of how we may see ourselves
Fear!

Crazy stuff that – fear, and ironically enough something that every single person on the planet experiences at one time or another, and actually therefore nothing really to be ashamed of at all.

Owners of small businesses all over the country seem to think that they are always alone with their fears. Strange thing that, how we feel that everything that happens to us is uniquely ours!

Come on people, we are actually all in this together, surely it makes perfectly good sense to get together and unite, as a group to face the challenges that presents itself to us all as individuals. Surely it is better to ‘brainstorm’ our way through these issues rather than try to stand up in the face of perceived adversity, all by ourselves. Surely it is better to find solutions for all of us than to try and be all of everything to ourselves?

I am often told about individuals who are ‘lonely’ in business by themselves and yet that is exactly how they mean to stay – by themselves because of the ‘fear’ mostly, I guess, fear of opening themselves up to anyone, of showing how weak and/or vulnerable they are. Yet in the words of my friend and mentor Vanessa Paige – ‘Your greatest strength lies within your vulnerability’, lay my biggest ‘ah ha’ moment! Took me quite a while to get that one, but I did – eventually and I am a far stronger person for it.

Now you see, I share everything about my life with people. My fears, my challenges and my triumphs - especially my triumphs. I am not alone in my business and I don’t have to do it alone either.

Are you alone? Are you afraid and alone?

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za.

I'M BORED WITH THE HANKY PANKY

'I'm bored of the hanky panky'

October 10 2006 at 12:47PM

Playboy millionaire Hugh Hefner says he's bored of sex and would rather have a game of dominoes.

Hefner, 80, is famed for bedding thousands of women and holding bunny-girl parties at his Beverly Hills mansion.

However, he says he no longer has the energy and would rather relax with his bunnies reports The Sun.

He said: "I'm bored of the hanky panky. I'm still active but it's different - I like to play dominoes with my girlfriends."

Hefner once had seven girlfriends - but in 1997 he cut down to three, saying the girls got jealous.

He lives with 26-year-old Holly Madison, 32-year-old Bridget Marquardt and 21-year-old Kendra Wilkinson.

He added: "Having three beautiful women keeps the years off me. I would recommend it to anyone."

ID THIEF HAS PARAMEDIC LIVING UNDER A CLOUD

ID thief has paramedic living under a cloud
Karyn Maughan February 26 2007 at 05:03AM
Paramedic Joseph Sithole is fighting to get his life back after falling victim to identity theft - a crime phenomenon that has exploded in South Africa.Sithole was shocked when he received a tax bill for a construction job he knew nothing about and subsequently discovered that his identity had been taken over and used to secure employment, bank accounts and credit for a Mozambican national.And the 27-year-old is only one of thousands of South Africans who have experienced a similar fate.Stolen identities are making fortunes for syndicates who, with the help of corrupt Home Affairs officials, create fraudulent ID documents, and enable criminal groups to fraudulently purchase luxury cars, secure loans and run so-called "deposit scams".
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'I am very angry'Home Affairs Deputy Minister Malusi Gigaba recently revealed that more than 160 department officials had been dismissed after being found guilty of corruption, with a further 600 cases being investigated by the department's counter-corruption unit. Another 200 employees were facing disciplinary action for misconduct ranging from the fraudulent issuing of IDs and birth certificates to the illegal issuing of work permits.Finance Minister Trevor Manuel last week also allocated R900-million to Home Affairs to bolster its "turnaround strategy". This includes a commitment to fight corruption and fraud, particularly fraudulent marriages and ID documents. But the plans offer no comfort to Sithole."I am very angry," Sithole said, revealing that he had personally used the tax details supplied to him by the revenue services to track down the man who had taken his identity.
'I'm living under a shadow'"I went to the construction company (PJ Construction Limited) and showed them my identity document. They then showed a copy of another identity document, with my name and identity number on it, that had been certified by the South African Police. "Only the photograph and issuing date were different."Peter Becker, the owner of PJ Construction, said Sithole's impersonator, a Mozambican, had produced the ID document after Becker told him he could not employ him if he did not have proper documentation."He had called himself Mathang, but, after he got the ID, he told me that Sithole was his real name. I believed him because his documents looked proper," Becker said.Sithole's impersonator had left his company last year and was now hawking clothes in the Vereeniging area, Becker added. He also revealed that it was he who had filed the IRP5 documents that resulted in the real Sithole facing a R4 300 tax bill - which the paramedic avoided by proving his employment with the city of Johannesburg."I am living in fear that this man is going to get loans under my name... I'm living under a shadow," Sithole said.Pat Cunningham of South African Fraud Prevention Services (SAFPS), whose clients include major banks, furniture and supermarket retailers, micro lenders and motor finance corporations, says Sithole's story was "sadly not even a blip on the radar"."This type of ID theft is growing exponentially and it is terribly traumatic for the people who experience it. We often have people phoning us in tears because they feel violated by what has happened to them," he said.According to Cunningham, the not-profit SAFPS organisation had prevented ID fraud of R801-million in 2006 alone - and had already stopped identity fraud transactions of R135-million since January 1.According to the US Federal authorities, it takes 500 days for an identity theft victim to get his "own" identity back. Delegates at a conference hosted by PriceWaterhouse-Coopers last year were told that white-collar crime was costing the economy an estimated R80 billion, with more than 40 000 cases a year reported. The claim was backed up by the Consumer Profile Bureau and a report from Alexander Forbes Risk and Insurance Services. The SAFPS has recorded a recent explosion in the growth of identity fraud syndicates involving groups of local and international fraudsters."We register between five and six of these syndicates on our systems every day and they are becoming more and more sophisticated."The cost to the economy is huge... and it is trickling down to law-abiding bank customers and consumers," Cunningham said.Cunningham stressed that the Home Affairs Department "urgently" needed to address the type of identity documents, which he describes as "very easy to forge", and corruption problems within its own ranks.Cleo Mosana, spokesperson for Minister of Home Affairs Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, disputed the billion rand costs attached to identity fraud. "So far, no one has been able to provide us with a definite breakdown of the money involved... there are no proven statistics attached to this." She stressed that the department took corruption seriously but that its anti-corruption efforts were only one part of its turnaround strategy. Asked about a date for the roll-out of its proposed new "smart card" ID cards - said to be more difficult to forge - Mosana said the department was "in the process" of doing so.

WHAT TO DO WHEN . . . . STAFF ARE NEGLIGENT IN THE PERFOMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES - PART 2

ARTICLE 4

WHAT TO DO WHEN . . . . STAFF ARE NEGLIGENT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES

PART 2

By Nikki Viljoen – N Viljoen Consulting CC - March 2008.

So here we are again with Mike and George and the disciplinary is now taking place. You will remember that George has failed in his duty as the Security guard, to either search the employees as they were leaving and/or to search them in the correct manner. George has also allowed employees to sign the register evidencing that they have been properly search when they haven’t and all of this has been captured on video.

At no time during the disciplinary did George challenge any of what Mike had found. In other words he did not deny that he had not searched some of the employees, he did not deny that he had not searched some of the employees in the procedures as laid down or even that he had allowed staff to sign the register indicating that they had been searched, when in fact they hadn’t. George did not deny anything.

What George did say however, is that he had not been trained properly – in fact he stated that he was upset at the lack of training that he had received by Mike at this store. He further stated that the search “procedures” which he had not received any training for at this store, were completely different to the search “procedures” that he had been trained in at a previous store that Mike owned.

The Chairman presiding over the disciplinary, after weighing up all the evidence and taking into account the fact that George had been with the Company for 15 years, found George guilty of misconduct in that he had failed in his duty to properly carry out the required search procedures. George’s misconduct had created a potential loss or theft situation and had therefore put the company at risk. The Chairman also took into account that ‘as far as was known’ no theft and/or loss had taken place during this particular shift.

The Chairman further found that despite all of the mitigating circumstances (being the long service and that no losses appeared to have taken place during this particular shift), that the relationship of trust and confidence had been broken down irrevocably. This was shown and highlighted by the video footage that had been provided proving that the employee had failed in his duty and that as a result of this the employment relationship could no longer continue.

George was dismissed.

In accordance with Mike’s internal appeal procedure and in terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, George lodged a formal appeal.



Now of course, an appeal hearing had to take place.

Next week we will continue with what happens.

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za

THE POWER OF NETWORKING - PART 56

THE POWER OF NETWORKING

PART 56

By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC

I don’t know about you, but I have, of late, had to take a step back, from the world and do a bit of re-examining. Not always the most pleasant thing in the world to do – but certainly something that must be done from time to time if you want to get rid of the ‘dead wood’ in your life and make sure that you are on the right path going in the right direction.

“Dead wood” is pretty much what I want to talk about today – and it is the ‘energy’ sapping, frustrating, pulling out of hair in frustration type of ‘dead wood’ in particular that I want to discuss.

We all have them in our lives – the Radiators and the Drains. There are some people on the planet that you are just drawn to, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing (unless you yourself are a Drain!). They give out the type of energy, or aura, or whatever, else you would like to call it, that makes you feel good. Those people are a pleasure to have around – they are fun to engage with or have any kind of interaction with as they usually give very freely of themselves and you come away from them with a smile on your face and a song in your heart and usually with a benefit or two, whether it is something that you have learnt or a joke that you have shared. It’s that warm fuzzy feeling, that tells you that all is good with the world today and you actually can’t wait to see them again – to engage in a mutually satisfying conversation or even debate. These, clearly are the Radiators and it is always a good thing to have a few of them in your circle of influence, and hopefully you are also a Radiator and therefore a good thing in the circle of influence yourself.

Then, of course, you have the Drains – these are the people who I (not so) affectionately call human vampires! They suck and draw out all your energy and then off they go on their merry way to their next un-suspecting victim and you are left behind in an exhausted heap. Not much fun at all.

The dilemma arises when some of your client’s and/or the people that you network with, are Drains. The rest you can walk away from or see as seldom as you can – but with clients and people who you meet at networking events, this is not always that easy to do.

A lot of it has to do with the energy that you yourself give out. It could be that if you are ‘down’ or not in a good space yourself – the negative energy that you are giving out is simply attracting the wrong people and it means that they will, in all probability bring you down even further.

It is critical for you to attract the right kind of people, when you are networking. You yourself need to be happy, passionate about what you do and interesting to those around you and those that you meet at networking events. You need to be ‘on fire’ for life, for your business, for the things that you hold dear to you. Most importantly you need to protect yourself from the Drains, so mixing and/or attracting other Radiators is always a good thing – safety in numbers I think! All that positive energy driving the negative away!

Drains you see, feed of off people to get their energy. Radiators get their energy from inside of themselves (well at least I do) and that is obviously is like gold, a very sort after commodity.

Well, I’m off to get rid of some of the ‘dead wood’ drains in my life and I know that this will also let in some more Radiators, can never have enough Radiators!

So, who are you? Where do you get your energy? Are you a Drain or a Radiator?

Nikki Viljoen is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist and she can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za.

ARE YOU MARRIED?

Are you married?
Babalo Ndenze
December 06 2007 at 06:55AM

About 10 000 South Africans, most of them women, have found they have been married off to someone they don't known in fake unions registered since 2001, the Department of Home Affairs has disclosed. According to its figures, 9 796 people have reported being married fraudulently to foreigners. The department has sorted out 8 683 of these cases. Through its Check Your Marital Status Campaign, launched in 2001, it found that most cases were in Gauteng. This year, 1 983 cases have been reported. Of these, 1 589 marriages have been deleted from the department's records, and 325 cases have been referred to court.


By last month the department had been alerted to 1 616 cases in Gauteng, 120 in the Eastern Cape, 97 in KwaZulu-Natal, 41 in Limpopo, 21 in Mpumalanga, 33 in North West, 14 in the Free State, 18 in the Northern Cape, 10 in the Western Cape and 13 in unnamed provinces. Between November 15 and 21 alone, 37 marriage investigations were launched and 51 marriages were expunged, with 35 cases being referred to the high court.

Only 16 men had their marriages annulled, and only one man features in the 325 cases referred to court. Spokesperson Mantshele Tau said the department did not have figures for each of the nationalities responsible for the fraud. "We are just interested in the crime, not race. But (fraudulent marriages) are on the decline if you look at the statistics since 2001. We have been encouraging the public, especially young women, to go to our offices to check, if they don't have the Internet."

Some women willingly married foreigners. "It's not an easy thing to just get out of a marriage. You have to go through a stressful process, divorce. Some (women are) offered R5 000 or R10 000 by these guys."

Marital status may be checked online on the home affairs website: www.dha.gov.zababalo.ndenze@inl.co.za

This article was originally published on page 3 of Cape Times on December 06, 2007

MOTIVATION - LISTEN

MOTIVATION - LISTEN

By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC

The quote today comes from Shel Silverstein, who says:

“Listen to the mustn'ts, child.
Listen to the don'ts.
Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts.
Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me...
Anything can happen, child.
Anything can be.”

There have been an inordinate number of people, of late, who have been demanding that we listen to them. A huge number of these have been the doomsday orators whose predictions of the future of this country do not bode well for us. This has resulted in, sometimes quite prolific debates, which have resulted in bruised egos and battered self esteem.

Oh, please don’t get me wrong – I believe that intelligent debate is a good thing. Apart from hearing, listening (and those are two entirely different things believe it or not) and understanding a situation from a completely different view point, a good debate also ‘stretches’ the mind, and quite honestly I’m all for that. What I am having difficulty in understanding, is why some people are ‘hell bent’ on declaring South Africa, hopeless.

I find it disconcerting, and frankly a little insulting to have to listen, on a continual basis, about how this country is ‘going down the tubes’. Quite honestly, if they spent as much time doing things to improve their lot as they do bemoaning the fact that they don’t have one or because of apartheid, they still haven’t found one, I have no doubt we would be a lot further along the road to recovery than we currently appear to be.

I am astounded by the amount of energy that they are willing to use in order to beat their breasts and cry ‘woe is me’ and list all of the bad things that are happening around us, and yet they are unwilling to spend a fraction of that energy in looking for something good that has happened!

So here is the deal. I am no longer prepared to listen to these people, I am no longer prepared to waste my time and/or energy trying to change their minds and show them the good around us. I am, in fact, no longer prepared to have anything to do with these people – I know that that sounds a bit harsh, but that is exactly how I feel.

Instead of wasting time and energy on them, I will be using my time and energy to find the good, to change what’s wrong in my own life, to make a difference in the lives of others.
If we all just had one positive thought, if we all just made one positive statement and if we all just shared one positive thing with each other on a daily basis, I have no doubt that this country would be a fabulous beacon of shining light.

So what are you going to spend your energy on today?

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za.

CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST PAPERS

Good day bloggers - hope you've enjoyed your Sunday!

Catholic Elementary School Test Papers


Can you imagine yourself to be the nun that is sitting at her desk grading these papers all the while trying to keep a straight face and maintain her composure???

PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE EVEN A LITTLE, YOU'LL FIND THIS HILARIOUS! IT COMES FROM A CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST. KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED OR CORRECTED. INCORRECT SPELLING HAS BEEN LEFT IN.


1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.
2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE. NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.
3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT.
4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENITALS.
5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH.
6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES.
7. MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGR EDIENTS .
8, THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNT CYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.
10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.
11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA. THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLE OF GERITOL.
12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHU A TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM.
13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES.
14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND 700 PORCUPINES
15. WHEN MARY HEARD SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA.
16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER.
17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION.
18. ST. JOHN THE BLACKSMITH DUMPED WATER ON HIS HEAD.
19. JESUS ENUNCIATED THE GOLDEN RULE, WHICH SAYS TO DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO ONE TO YOU. HE ALSO EXPLAINED A MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY SWEAT ALONE.
20. IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE.
21. THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE LORD WERE CALLED THE 12 DECIBELS.
22. THE EPISTELS WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES.
23. ONE OF THE OPPOSSUMS WAS ST. MATTHEW WHO WAS ALSO A TAXIMAN.
24. ST. PAUL CAVORTED TO CHRISTIANITY, HE PREACHED HOLY ACRIMONY WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MARRAIGE.
25. CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY.

FURY OVER UNSPENT MILLIONS

Oh for goodness sake! How difficult can this be? These are Universities who are in the business of teaching and they can't teach someone the skill of administration and allocation of the NSFAS loans - how comfortable does that make you feel about them teaching anything else!

Come on people, you are always complaining that Government doesn't do enough - well you also have to step up to the plate at some point and do something yourselves.

This is just absolutely crazy!

Fury over unspent millions
Monako Dibetle Johannesburg, South Africa
28 March 2008 07:20


A total of R50-million allocated by the government to universities for loans to poor students went unused last year.Universities now have to return the money -- which could have provided about 1 500 students with the maximum subsidy of R35 000 -- to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

NSFAS chief executive Pragasen Naicker confirmed this week that from a budget of R1,6-billion allocated for loans last year, about R50-million was unspent. In 2006 about R11-million from a budget of R1,2-billion was returned to NSFAS. The disclosure comes after continuing nationwide student protests against financial exclusions and escalating university fees. Student organisations this week criticised NSFAS and the department of education.

David Maimela, president of the South African Student Congress, said: “We have consistently raised the insufficiency of NSFAS and the inefficiencies of universities to administer the scheme at campus level ... Here again we are proved correct: universities and their poor leadership are a major part of the reason we have had so many student protests since September last year.” He called on NSFAS to tighten its monitoring and visit universities more regularly.

The South African Union of Students’ general secretary, Mbulelo Mandlana, said this “is not only disappointing but disgusting”. The education department, in particular, was to blame, because it continued to ignore students’ demands, he said. Naicker said the key reason for the failure to use the money was universities’ lack of capacity to process the loan funds. Financial aid offices across the country managed NSFAS money and other sources of student funding solicited by an institution, he said.

A contributory factor was that increasing amounts of government money were earmarked for scarce-skills training, including bursaries offered by the Funza Lushaka scheme for teacher training and the social worker training fund. “If a university cannot register a sufficient number of students for these scarce-skills courses, the funds budgeted for the courses will not be drawn down from NSFAS,” he said.

The fund’s provisional quarterly report for the 2007 academic year gives a breakdown of allocations for each university and how much was unspent. The University of Johannesburg, which experienced violent student protests against fee increases last year, recorded the highest unspent funds (just more than R9-million), followed closely by the Vaal University of Technology (also about R9-million). The University of the Witwatersrand failed to spend R7,3-million and Unisa and the University of the Western Cape R4,8-million.

Of a total of 23 government-funded universities, only five managed to use their NSFAS allocations in full. These included the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s Cape Town campus, the Durban University of Technology, the University of Limpopo’s Medunsa campus, Mangosuthu University of Technology and Walter Sisulu University’s Butterworth campus.

Naicker said the unspent money would not be forfeited, but would be drawn back into the NSFAS for future student allocations. At a parliamentary monitoring committee meeting in November last year the NSFAS reported it was expanding its allocations in the next three years to benefit Funza Lushaka, FET colleges and social worker training.

A total of R120-million would be made available to Funza Lushaka, R100-million to FET colleges and R50-million to social workers. Naicker said universities first had to allocate their own funds to assist students before accessing NSFAS funding. “As a result, funding can be used to top up the university’s financial package to the student. Top-up measures normally require a smaller financial commitment from the NSFAS,” he said. Although bursaries given to universities by external donors are preferable to loans, bursary funding is often late, he said. This often happens after NSFAS funding has been provisionally allocated to students, resulting in the return of the remaining funds to the NSFAS.

Universities acknowledged the difficulties they encounter when dealing with allocation of student loans and encouraged students to help them to improve their service.“We do all that we can do to return as little or no money [to NSFAS]. However, this also needs cooperation from students by them meeting NSFAS requirements and deadlines,” said Luthando Tyhalibongo of the University of the Western Cape.

WHAT TO DO WHEN . . . . STAFF ARE NEGLIGENT IN THE PERFOMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES

ARTICLE 4

WHAT TO DO WHEN . . . . STAFF ARE NEGLIGENT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES

PART 1

By Nikki Viljoen – N Viljoen Consulting CC - March 2008.

According to the law, the charge of negligence is a dismissible offence!

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s examine what can and often does happen.

Let’s go back to our protagonists – Mike (the employer) and George (the employee) and see what they are up to this week.

Mike owns a retail type store that sells anything and everything and George is the security guard. Once of George’s main functions is to physically search employees as they leave the premises, to ensure that half the store stock doesn’t leave with them.

Mike is a pretty thorough type of a guy and he has all of his procedures and controls in place. One of the procedures is that it is incumbent upon the Security guard to search each and every employee that leaves the premises, without exception. The procedures have all been circulated and all the staff have signed off indicating that they have familiarized themselves with the procedures. Furthermore, Mike has gone through the procedures with George to ensure that he understands exactly what it is that he must do. George has been with the company for 14 years now and it is therefore highly unlikely that he has not had the benefit of training for the position. George is equipped with a metal detector that must be used when conducting a search to ensure that metal objects have not been fraudulently removed from the store.

In view of the value of some of the higher priced goods in the store, Mike has had a whole surveillance application installed and he is able to video all the staff as they leave and therefore he is able to monitor George to ensure that the search is in fact carried out on all the staff and also to ensure that the correct search procedures are utilized.

In accordance with laid down procedures, George has signed the procedure manual, in particular the procedures that pertain to the searching of staff members as they leave the premises, thereby acknowledging that they had been read and explained to him and that he understood what it was that had to be done.

The employees are individually searched in a private cubicle, with close personal inspection, plus a metal detector scan.

Mike noticed that the turnover in the store was steadily declining and that the losses were creeping upwards all the time. He investigated and attempted to[ resolve the situation by increasing his preventative measures. One of the areas that he looked closely at was the staff exit procedures .

What he discovered was not good news. He found that out of 24 employees that left, George had only conducted a properly compliant search on 1 of these. There were eight instances where the staff members were not searched at all. That meant that there were 15 staff members who were not properly searched. Not only were the staff not searched and/or not correctly searched, the video also showed that George allowed the staff to sign the register thereby confirming that they had been search, when of course they hadn’t!

Clearly a disciplinary had to take place.

Next week we will continue with what happens.

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za

BLACK SHARE OF INCOME NOW HIGHEST

And here's your useless information for the day! I am surprised to see the difference between "black and white" here - I guess we will never move away from apartheid, until we stop seeing the colours!

Black share of income now highest
Jocelyn Newmarch
31 October 2007 06:00


South Africans are earning more. Much more. Total income has more than doubled in the past seven years. This phenomenal growth is eclipsed only by the growth of the black middle class, which has grown at an even faster rate. Black consumers now account for 46,5% of personal disposable income, compared with 40,4% for whites.

This percentage is set to rise in the next five years, according to the latest All Media Products Survey (Amps) conducted by the South African Advertising Research Foundation. The survey randomly selects a representative sample of 24 000 people from around the country. This year’s survey compared fieldwork conducted between February and June last year with the same period this year.

Total personal income for all race groups was calculated at R31,1-billion in 2000. By 2006/07 this had grown to R66,7billion. In the same period black income rose from R13,2-billion (42,6%) to R34,7-billion (52,1%) of the total. White income grew from R14-billion (45%) of the total to R23,4-billion (35,2%). While average household income in 1994 was calculated at R2 435, by this year it had grown to R5 319.

Over 13 months the black middle class grew by 30%, from two million to 2,6-million people, according to a study by the University of Cape Town’s Unilever Institute of Strategic Marketing and TNS Research Surveys. The survey found spending power had grown from R130-billion to R180-billion, while white spending power grew from R230-billion to R235-billion. The number of black senior managers grew from 8 766 in 1997 to 28 658 last year; the number of white top managers declined from 30 876 to 22 758 in the same period, according to several sources, including the Labour Department, general household surveys, public service commission reports and Statistics SA.

In the past two years black average household income rose 15% from R2 664 to R3 474. The average household income of whites, coloureds and Indians rose 5% over this time from R9 395 to R10 963. The Amps survey found that unemployment declined between 2004 and this year.

The number of respondents who said they were not working at all (for various reasons) declined from 64% to 61%, while the number of unemployed dropped from 33% to 30%. But only 28% of respondents this year said they were employed full time, up from 23% in 2004. All this wealth generation has resulted in a more comfortable existence for South Africans. The proportion of homes with electricity grew from 64,7% in 1996 to 86% this year.

While 35% of black consumers had cellphones two years ago, now that figure is 51,7% . The proportion of whites, coloureds and Indians with cellphones increased from 60,9% to 70,5% over the same period. In total the number of South Africans with cellphones has jumped from 41,5% to 56,3% in the past two years. Nearly half (49,2%) of the respondents have a bank account -- an 8% jump from 45,6% two years ago. While 23,7% of people had insurance two years ago, now 26,4% do, an increase of 12%. Just more than 7% had logged on to the internet in the past month, up from 6,4% previously. Just 4,2% of the sample owned a digital camera in 2005, but now 5,7% do, a rise of 37%. And although 7,7% had bought a “durable item on credit” in the past 12 months in the 2005 survey, this dropped 5% to 7,3% in this year’s survey.

Household appliances
TV: 77% of households
Fridge: 70%
Hi-fi: 62%
Electric stove: 54%
Microwave: 42%
Video recorder: 24%
Electric hotplate: 29%
Deep freeze: 19%
Vacuum: 17%
DVD player: 40%

What South Africans are consuming

What we’re reading and watching

The Daily Sun is far and away the largest daily paper with 13,9% of readership (from 9,8% two years ago), but the Sunday Times isn’t far behind. It grabbed 11,4% of readership in the weekly newspaper market, from 10,6% two years ago, closely tracked by the Sunday Sun, at 8,1% from 6,2% previously. Business Day, however, boasts the richest readers, with an average household income of R20 159. As for the Mail & Guardian, we captured 1,2% of the weekly newspaper market and our readers’ average household income is R13 392.

Among male readers, Car magazine is the most popular, with 2,8% of readers, closely followed by Men’s Health with 2,6% of readers. Female readers can’t get enough of True Love with 6,5% of the market.

Soccer mags Kickoff (5,4%), Amakhosi (3,6%) and SoccerLife (2% of readers) dominate the sports magazine market. In the general Afrikaans category, Huisgenoot grabs 6,6% of readers. But another 2,5% choose to read Dish/Skottel (the DStv guide). In the general English category, the Sunday Times Magazine reached 7,6% of readers. You magazine reached 6,2% of readers. On the box, SABC1 attracted 51,6% of viewers, e.tv 36,8%, SABC2 36,3% and SABC3 23,8%. M-Net’s main service pulled in 4,5% of viewers and 6,7% watched DStv.

Metro FM is still the biggest radio station with 15,1% of listeners, followed by Lesedi FM with 11,5% of listeners. Up from 16,8% two years ago, 17,5% of adults had been to the cinema in the past year.

What we’re buying and doing

About 41% of adults have enjoyed a tipple in the past seven days, with 22,7% of all adults (or 55% of imbibers) drinking beer. Carling Black Label is our most popular brand with 38,3% choosing this brand. Energade is the most popular sports drink, liked by 56,9% of consumers who consume sports drinks. A quarter of adults said they had drunk a sports beverage in the past week.

Soccer is still our favourite spectator sport, enjoyed by 61% of men and 31% of women. But only 23% of men and 3% of women actually play the beautiful game. In fact, we’re not really into exercise, with 49% of men and 68% of women not exercising at all. The top physical activity for women is walking or hiking, with 7% participating. After soccer, another 12% of men play pool or snooker. Our favourite music is gospel -- listened to by 59% of under-35s and 67% of over-35s -- and kwaito, enjoyed by 45% of under-35s and 14% of over-35s.

Good morning bloggers. Sorry about no posts for the last couple of days - I was feeling a bit under the weather. Back on track now and I will catch up today.

THE POWER OF NETWORKING

PART 55

By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC

Networking for me is also about building the right people around me. Let me explain.

Part of adding value, when I refer someone or add someone to my data base, is to have a selection of people who do not do what I do, but rather do what I don’t. I need people who will do the things that are not my strengths.

Let’s explore this for a moment. I am an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist and the fact of the matter is that I am very good at what I do – now that’s not a boast, it’s a fact. I have the accolades (and the clients) to prove it.

One of the areas that I check when I am doing an assessment, is whether the client has got contracts in place and if so are they the correct contracts. Now I am not a lawyer and I don’t profess to know too much about the law (other than it can get really confusing), so instead of that becoming a weakness (because I know that you have a problem, but I cannot solve it for you), I turn it into a strength (for me) and a value add (for both you and the specialist that I refer), by referring you to the correct lawyer for your problem. Notice I said the correct lawyer – not just a lawyer. You see there are many different aspects to the law, so many lawyers choose to specialize. The result is that I have a Contractual Lawyer, a Litigation Lawyer, a Trust Lawyer, a Labour Attorney and a Generalist Attorney. I also have a Tax Advocate and if pressed, I am sure I could find you a really mean Divorce Lawyer as well.

Just by knowing these people, I have increased my value and therefore the value to my Company. I have provided a solution to a problem that my client had (notice had – the problem is now resolved), I have given work to a colleague who will now ‘remember’ me if anyone of their client’s needs the kind of help that I can give and I have increased and added to my ‘Circle of Influence’ How awesome is that?

So, although it appears that I work totally alone, I am actually a very small part of a very large team! That’s not the end of the story either because, I tend to work with other individuals who are entrepreneurs and SMME’s, so I work with Specialists rather than generalists, which is what you usually find in the Corporate environment. What does this actually mean though? It means that you get assistance from people like me – people who are passionate about what it is that they do, rather than just people who work to put food on the table.

People who are determined to make a difference in your life and your business. People who deliver what and when they say they will deliver. Now that for me is the biggest value add of them all!

Where do I get these people from, I hear you ask – well that’s simple to answer – from networking of course!

Nikki Viljoen is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist and she can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za.