expatriate magazine issue 6
DESCRIPTION
Expatriate Magazine Issue 6 featuring Sir Sam JonahTRANSCRIPT
Inside SA Home Affairs • Sankofa Insurance’s William Yeboah • Genderlinks Colleen Morna • Baraka Bora’s Harold Olukune • Internations’ Niels Bertschat • Jobs in Africa - backpage!
w w w . e x p a t r i a t e . c o . z a
A f r i c a n P r o f e s s i o n a l s B e y o n d B o r d e r s
Issue 6
Kenya’s Gerald MahindaBrandhouse SA CEO
Sir Sam JonahKnighted African Igniting Africa
9 772218 757007 >60011
Uganda’s Lee KasumbaFrom Y to O
Nigeria’s Wale Akinlabi From Houseboy to Household Name
Ben M’PokoDRC Envoy and Dean of Ambassadors
R 23,95
P11002 PARK INN SP Ads RP.indd 3 1/30/12 3:36:39 PM
LADIES SAVE THE DATE!!!
Follow us online for details: www.expatriate.co.za
TheExpatriateWinterWomen’sHigh Tea
Park Inn Hotel Sandton SaturdayJune 2nd - 2012
Group: “Expatriate- African Professionals Beyond Borders”
www.facebook.com/expatmag
twitter.com/expatriatemag
SUBSCRIBE AND WIN Subscribe and win 2 nights for 2 in the DrakensbergVi s i t w w w. e x p a t r i a t e . c o . z a a n d c l i c k t h e s u b s c r i b e t a b
ETHNIC+UNIQUE
=79 Hill Street, Ferndale, 2194
www.ethniquedesigns.co.za . 0723468742
o you want to remain
authentically African but
not miss out on the ever-
changing fashion trends of
the modern world? Then Ethnique
Designs, the brainchild of Zambian-
born Ezi Kilembe, situated on Hill
Street in Randburg is the place for you.
“I used to design the clothes
I wore and I started designing for
friends and family as they always
liked what I wore. I was more
interested in completing my BA and
just did it as a hobby. After doing this
for about 10 years, I suddenly realised
that I could turn a pleasurable hobby
into a business and in May of last
year, I opened up shop and called it
Ethnique, a combination of “Ethnic”
representing the fact that while we
are human first, our ethnicity shines
out through our different cultural
backgrounds and the quirky play on
the spelling with “que” represents the
word “unique”, which means we can
all be represented in a modern way.”
Ethnique Designs makes fashion
outfits and accessories for any
occasion. Fabric is acquired from
places as far as Ghana, Nigeria,
Guinea, Mozambique and the
DR Congo. They specialise in
fascinator hats as well.
“We also have a
beauty parlour on our
premises that offers
facials, nails with nail art,
manicures, pedicures,
massages, waxing, eye
lash extensions and
m a ke - u p
application. Our outfits do not only
promote uniqueness in our cultural
expressions through dress, but our
service is also unique in that we offer
a ‘one-stop-shop’ service especially
for events such as weddings as
we not only make outfits for the
wedding party, but also provide the
beauty treatments required as a
package at a cost-effective price.”
Since setting up shop, she has
had the opportunity to learn from
different cultures by interacting
with a variety of racial groups, which
she is thankful for. Some have even
become suppliers by bringing her
genuine pieces from their travels
back home which is important to her
in keeping with her brand promise of
a unique offering.
“We design outfits from scratch.
Some clients come with their own
materials and designs and if we
feel a tweak is needed here and
there to suit their profile, we advise
them accordingly. Finally, we are
also increasing our variety
by bringing on board
other designers. We
are in the process
of creating a shop
where we can stock
African designers
from around
the continent
and anybody
interested can
contact us.”
03
Contents6 Editorial
7 Inside Home Affairs: Charity begins at Home Affairs
9 Buntu Williams: Africa’s chance to redefine capitalism
10 Expat-tivities
16 Sir Sam Jonah: Knighted African Igniting Africa
20 Gerald Mahinda: CEO of Brandhouse SA
24 Sankofa’s William Yeboah: Experience that insures your tomorrow
27 Colleen Lowe Morna: The phoenix of Genderlinks
30 Harold Olukune: Accounting your blessings through Baraka Bora
34 Expat-travel: Conquering The Congo
38 Know Your Envoy: DRC Ambassador Ben M’Poko
42 Wale Akinlabi: From Houseboy to Household Name
45 Senkubuge: Eating, praying and loving
46 Lee Kasumba: From ‘Y’ to ‘O’
49 Hanging on with Hannington: My Pretoria to Kampala Road Trip
50 Niels Bertschat: Internations Johannesburg Host
52 The Last Word: The world is ending, what’s your legacy?
53 Jobs in Africa
06 EXPATRIATE
ell if you had one at our
inaugural Kenya Airways
sponsored Expatriate
Magazine golf day then you need to
tell me how you managed to sneak
him in! Jackal Creek strictly prohibits
the use of a caddie and so all aspiring
Tiger Woods’ reading this will have
had to settle for the use of golf carts
instead.
The golf day is one of four
events in our calendar this year.
It will be followed by The Winter
Women’s High Tea in June, the
Annual Expatriate Dinner and Dance
in September and our Anniversary
celebration towards the end of the
year.
It’s 2012, or as an optimistic
friend recently told me, plenty 12!
We certainly hope that it will bring
plenty your way and that your
dreams are realised. Hopefully the
Mayans got it horribly wrong and
mankind shall continue to exist
beyond their forecasted doomsday
of 12th of December 2012.
Speaking of golf and sports, as
I write this, the replay of Asamoah
Gyan striking the ball in the direction
of the grateful palms of the Zambian
keeper is receiving a lot of airplay on
TV. These scenes have prompted an
on-going debate in bars and social
media platforms as to whether or not
he should be the scapegoat for the
failure of the Black Stars to progress
to the ultimate stage of continental
football: the African Cup final.
True to our propensity for bouts
of selective amnesia, many have
conveniently forgotten the numerous
goals the man has scored to secure
the Black Stars’ place in the semi-
final. In addition, national football is
a collective effort, unlike golf where
one has only him or herself to blame
in the event of a poor showing.
Like football, this magazine is
a team effort and as such I wish to
acknowledge the many who worked
hard to deliver a successful first year
in 2011. Given the stories we have
in this issue led by the profile of an
achiever like Sir Sam Jonah, I am
more than confident that this year
will be “plenty 12” for us as well!
KC Rottok, CA (SA)
Creative & Fin. Journalism (Wits University)
Managing Editor.
WHO’S YOUR CADDIE?
Publisher: The Expatriate Forum andMagazine (Pty) LimitedReg. Number: 2010/012428/07P O Box 4935, Randburg, 2125Tel: +27 11 7917484www.expatriate.co.za
Director: Carol Malonza – [email protected] Editor:KC Rottok – [email protected] Deputy Editor and Content Advisor: Leah Maina – [email protected]
Publishing Executive: Sheila Lynn Senkubuge
Advertising and Event Enquiries [email protected] or 0822146421
Edition Writers:Keith Kundai, Hannington Kasirye, Yaw Peprah, Andreas Krensel, KC Rottok, Sheila Senkubuge, Carol Malonza
Contributor:Buntu Williams
Art Direction, Design and Layout:Mike [email protected]
Photography:Mzu Nhlabati www.creativenation.co.za
Website: Drutech Media (0781121311)
All rights reserved. Excerpts may be used as long as this magazine is credited as the source. Longer versions of our content may only be used with the written permission of the Publisher. Neither the publisher nor the editor accept responsibility for any of the information from edition writers or contributors. Whilst we have taken care in preparing this publication, the publisher/editor does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The editor retains the right to edit all contributions. Advertisers are responsible for their material.
© Expatriate SA 2011: ISSN 2218 – 757X
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
As verified byAs advertised onAvailable at
Inside Home Affairs
new year has begun and
I hope that it was a good
start for our readers. For
me as a former expatriate,
it is still amazing to see that most
businesses in South Africa shut down
for at least four weeks during the
festive season. This is a period that
falls between the 17th of December
until the second week of January
where everything stops and there is
basically a national slow down.
Although other countries like
France and Italy have a similar
custom in August, it is indeed
difficult to explain this go-slow to
clients from the US, Asia and Europe.
The question I ask myself is whether
this practice is still appropriate
for a country which has in recent
times seen salary increases above
productivity gains. I am confident
that this will be a subject for
debate in South Africa in future.
So, what will 2012 bring from a
Home Affairs perspective?
Well, according to Home Affairs,
we will see a more service orientated,
efficient, friendly, well organized
department which will process all
applications without undue delay
and to the utmost satisfaction of the
public. Of course I cannot predict the
future, but I can assure you this will not
happen; certainly not with the kind
of speed that is being promised here.
What will certainly happen is
a change in legislation. I reported
in our last issue that a number
of modifications to immigration
legislation are on the cards (search
for “Rather apply abroad” on www.
Charity begins at Home Affairs“Another development that we have noted is that the adjudication of permits has become very strict. If one document is not in order, the entire application is quickly refused...”
expatriate.co.za to view that article).
On the date of writing this article,
these changes to the regulations had
yet to be signed off to become law.
We will be sure to keep you posted
on the developments relating to
these proposed adjustments.
Furthermore, according to the
department’s spokesperson, Home
Affairs intends to clear the current
backlog of approximately 46 076
applications in four months. Bearing
in mind that the department
receives approximately ten thousand
applications per month, it is a huge
ask to expect it to deal with the
backlog while attending to the
public’s daily demands.
Although they rarely ever
processed applications within
thirty days, moving Home Affairs
operations from the head office in
Pretoria during the last quarter of
last year aggravated the backlog. It
is good to note that the move was
completed at the end of December
2011. It is also a positive thing
that insiders indicate that no effort
is being spared to complete the
adjudication (finalization) of these
outstanding permit applications with
the view of clearing the backlog as
soon as possible.
Another development that we
have noted is that the adjudication
of permits has become very strict.
If one document is not in order,
the entire application is quickly
rejected. Although this is formally
correct, it would be better if there
would be a possibility to correct
the mistake instead of refusing the
entire application as a first reaction.
However, as they say with any reform
it will get worse before it gets better.
Officials indicated that the engine
must first run smoothly, before they
will allow any flexibility again.
One would hope however that
the people setting these new higher
hurdles are able to perform at those
standards. Charity has to begin at
home so I can only hope that they
will operate within reasonable
response times, are accountable and
responsible. And maybe investors
can even ask for some efficiency and
adherence to deadlines by the South
African government in 2012.
Andreas Krensel is the owner and managing
director of IBN Consulting in Cape Town. He is
a qualified German attorney with an LLM from
UCT and has been assisting foreign investors
in South Africa for the past ten years. www.
ibncapetown.com
CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES 31MAY 2012
WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES 31MAY 2012
04
05
09
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUMA F R I C A ’ S C H A N C E T O R E D E F I N E C A P I T A L I S M
s the world ponders
the future direction
of capitalism, Africans
should polish up and take
advantage.
The world’s wealthy and
powerful elite have never been
humbler. At their annual January
gathering in Davos, several years after
the markets crumbled, they did the
unthinkable – some soul searching.
Is capitalism failing the world? The
World Economic Forum describes
itself as an independent international
organization committed to improving
the state of the world by engaging
business, political, academic and
other leaders of society. Their brand
of 19th century capitalism refined in
the halcyon days of Wall Street and
the Chicago schools of business of
the 1980’s, has been found wanting
in Africa’s new age of hope – the 21st
century.
As evidenced in two recent
surveys, Africa will, over the next ten
years, be the world’s new investment
destination for the world’s leading
fund managers, pension funds, hedge
funds and financial institutions. It
truly staggered me to learn that
less than 1% of their money is
currently invested in Africa and that
they now plan to up their stake to
around 5% by 2015. So while the
world’s erstwhile capitalists undergo
soul searching, how would Africa’s
own capitalism look with all these
prospects of investor appeal?
A friend pointed out that it is
strange that some of the African
countries earmarked for huge
investment inflows have high levels
of instability and growing threat of
terror attacks. I reminded him that
Africa’s political risk has never before
deterred capitalists.
Capitalism is about to
experience yet another flourish. I
have observed with keen interest the
skilful operations of Asian traders
in our midst. While many consider
them just spaza shop owners, they
are in practise a fully networked
distribution chain. Unlike spazas
run by locals, these traders typically
have everything the neighbourhood
needs including
f o o d s t u f f ,
nappies and
cosmetics. To
gain acceptance,
they have set
roots in the same
areas in which
they do business
in whilst
running massive
warehouses in
the outskirts of
the city. Their
o w n e r s h i p
s t r u c t u r e
conforms to a single operational
purpose of getting your goods to
the consumer via a fully networked
chain of spazas across South Africa’s
townships.
It is an enterprising fusion of
marketing and community service.
It is a well-executed strategy, a
no-nonsense approach to profit
making whilst encouraging the
neighbourhood to see you as one of
their own which is the sort of empathy
corporate entities spend billions to
gain in the form of customer loyalty.
The failure of established retail
merchants to adapt to cost-effective
structures appropriate to townships
has been successfully exploited by a
new breed of entrepreneur imported
from Asia.
Another friend in the executive
search industry sent me some
notes revealing South Africa’s dire
lack of skills to take advantage of
potential growth in capital inflows.
South Africa is sitting with an 800
000 deficit in high level skills! It
is about time we started working
together. A cross pollination of ideas,
backgrounds and reverence for our
common humanity will change how
the continent exploits Africa’s new
age of capitalism.
So while the rest of the world
ponders the future direction of
capitalism, Africa will add a little
more colour to it. As they say, there is
always something new out of Africa.
This time, it’s a chance to redefine
capitalism.
- Buntu Williams is a producer at CNBC Africa.
06
01
02
05
03
02
10 EXPATRIATE
ExpaT-TivitieS
More pics available at www.facebook.com/expatmag
FRIENDS OF GOLF CHARITY GOLF DAY 2011
1 – City of Tshwane Manager Jason Ngobeni. 2 – Event MC Charles Karobia. 3 – Title Sponsors Tectura International Architects Director Nyaga Githae. 4 – Golfers getting ready to tee off, from left Nick Wanjau, Peter Mbugua, Charles Mwaura, Nyaga Githae, Davis Motlhako and Humphrey Gathungu. 5 – FOG Treasurer Henry Kihara introducing the Club’s new website. 6 – Editor KC Rottok (left ) congratulates Remo Moyo of Nedbank, winner of a year’s subscription to the magazine. 7 – FOG Chairman David Nderitu. 8 – FOG League Winner Eric Njuguna congratulated by Kenyan Ambassador Tom Amolo. 9 – Dipuo Mvelase from The Vincent Tshabalala Education Trust
Friends of Golf (FOG) is a social club whose objectives include playing golf once a month, improving members golf, engaging in charitable activities and business networking. The Club held a charity golf day in November 2011 in aid of students from Alexandria Township who are supported by the Vincent Tshabalala Education Trust. For more information, visit www.friendsofgolf.co.za and www.vincenttshabalala.org
08
07
04
09
ExpaT-TivitieS
EXPATRIATE MAG 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY
0201
0605
0403
More pics available at www.facebook.com/expatmag 11WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
0807
1 – Homebaze Restaurant owner Mr. Ken Ayere speaking to the press. 2 – Some of the 288 attendees. 3 – Dr. Agnes Ikatekit (middle) with son and nephew at the event. 4 – The 1 year anniversary cake with pictures of all the 5 covers to date. 5 – Event MC Turas Turise showing off the new issue. 6 – Expatriate Publishing Executive Sheila Senkubuge. 7 – From left, Nigerian High Commissioner H.E. Sonni Yusuf, Mrs. Nosi Kekana-Amolo, Kenyan Ambassador Tom Amolo and Expatriate Mag Editor KC Rottok. 8 – Ladies dressed to kill
12 EXPATRIATE
ExpaT-TivitieS
01
0405
02 03
MALAWI AND FRIENDS DINNER AND DANCE, DECEMBER 2011
1 – Salad Nthenda conducting a raffle in aid of charity. 2 – Malawi and Friends Founder Martha George. 3 – Former Miss Malawi Anne Sibande makes some opening remarks. 4 – Mrs. Tembo cracking a few Malawian jokes. 5 – Event MC Pastor Gift Muthanyi. 6 – MAFSA 2011 Chair Kennedy Kaposa (in striped tie) in the after dinner dance. 7 – Dr. Peter Mwangalawa. 8 – Malawi High Commission Health Attache Dr. Nedson Fosiko
06
07
05
08
More pics available at www.facebook.com/expatmag
13WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
ExpaT-TivitieS
EXPAT CLUB EVENTS
0305
0807
01 06
04021 – 4 - ZASA hosts Mafrika and Ozzy. 1 – General Ozzy. 2 – Miss Zambia SA and Miss Zambia Independence. 3 – Mafrika. 4 – From left Mumba Mwakwa from Big Brother, ZASA Chair Edwin Mwitumwa and Combs Muchindu. 5 – 6 - May May Productions Red and White African Affair. 5 – Congo’s Don K 6 – Second from left, Mavis Anim the organiser with some of the ladies in attendance 7 – 8 - Hodari Promotions hosts Mike Rua Mugithi Night.
More pics available at www.facebook.com/expatmag
03
0102
ExpaT-TivitieS
1 – Kenya Diaspora Association of South Africa Chairman Chomba Chuma. 2 – Kenyan VP (middle) checks out the latest copy of The Expatriate. 3 – Kenyan Assistant Minister Linah Kilimo.
KEDASA hosts Kenyan Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka
RADIANT FUNCTIONSWhere your party dreams come true!
23WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
RADIANT FUNCTIONSWhere your party dreams come true!
16 EXPATRIATE
17WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
Sir Sam JonahKNIGHTED AFRICAN IGNITING AFRICA
“Jonah became one of the wealthiest individuals in Ghana as he held lucrative international directorships as well as profitable investments. It was for his contributions as an African businessman and philanthropic work, especially in education, that he received an Honorary Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.”
regrettably kept Sir Jonah waiting
for an hour as I battled the
notorious traffic on Jan Smuts to
get to his Illovo office. Thankfully,
despite the rushed interview, he
recommended his biography “Sam
Jonah and the Remaking of Ashanti”
by AA Taylor as a source of additional
information.
The book is as much about the
Ghanaian mining giant, Ashanti
as it is about Jonah. The Ghanaian
author wrote it when completing a
doctorate thesis on the company’s
economic history and as such it has
plenty of financial statistics whose
potential monotony is frequently
broken by the often-humorous
intrigues of Jonah’s family, political
and corporate experiences. My brief
interview and reading of his book
provided me with the following
three aspects to Sir Jonah’s profile:
his challenges, his successes and his
character.
Challenges
Jonah’s challenges began when
he joined the Ashanti mine as a
shovel-boy at the age of 19. Plunged
into the deep underground with his
A-level education, other illiterate
miners made his life hell. He went
on to pursue a mining diploma in
England and on his return, steadily
rose to the position of CEO of the
entity whose main shareholders
were the Ghanaian government and
the London Rhodesian Mining and
Land Company (Lonrho).
As the first African CEO of a
company in an industry dominated
by white male leadership, Jonah
‘felt the weight of his colour on
his shoulders’. Even his own father
Thomas had previously declared that
the day a black man runs Ashanti
would be the day he (Thomas) would
leave town.
Jonah and his CFO Mark Keatley
made a judgement call that gold
prices would continue to drop and
used hedging instruments as a result.
An unexpected move by European
central bankers changed gold prices
dramatically which thrust Ashanti
into a debilitating financial crisis. The
then Ghanaian president, J.J. Rawlings
(who the book states held a personal
grudge against Jonah), shareholders
and journalists accused Jonah and his
team of mismanagement. Minority
shareholders weakened the Ashanti
board through a case in the Ghanaian
courts and a group of American
shareholders sued Jonah individually
for compensation of financial loss.
Jonah had this to say about the
ordeal: “It was character forming
and called for every experience I had
gone through in my life. The lessons I
learnt are too many to recount.”
Pic by: John Jones
Successes Jonah’s Master’s thesis was
instrumental in the drafting of
Ghana’s Minerals and Mining
Law of 1986. He became the first
African General Manager
of the Obuasi mine and
under his command the
resource produced the
best quarterly results in
five years. He managed
the significant reduction
of the injuries per million
working hours as well as
improving the organisation’s
environmental focus. Jonah
was the first African to sit on
the Lonrho board.
Under his tenure as CEO,
Ashanti became the first
African company outside of
South Africa to list on the
London Stock Exchange.
The company was the first
African operating company
to list on the New York
Stock Exchange which also
allowed them to join the
stock exchange in Toronto,
dubbed the mine finance
capital of the world. The
takeover of Cluff Resources
marked the first time an
African company had taken over a
listed British company.
Jonah steered the company
through an expansion programme
that saw an addition of new
resources in Ghana, Zimbabwe,
Guinea, Australia and Tanzania. As a
result, he was awarded an honorary
doctorate by the Camborne School
of Mines.
The book states that Jonah
became one of the wealthiest
individuals in Ghana as he held
lucrative international directorships
and profitable investments. It goes on
to assert that he managed to silence
friend turned foe President
J.J. Rawlings by financing
opposition candidate John
Kufuor’s successful bid for
the Ghanaian presidency.
With the help
of financial experts, he
managed to steer Ashanti
out of the crisis and the
friendship he had with SA’s
largest mining entity’s CEO
Bobby Godsell set the tone
for discussions leading to
a successful merger that
brought him to Johannesburg
as the Executive President
of the merged entity Anglo
Gold Ashanti.
“Moving here
was a good experience for
me as the country is world
class. My experience in
employing and being an
expatriate is that sometimes
we are judgemental and
fail to understand that we
should show sensitivity to socio-
cultural differences because after all
we are guests and must therefore
show respect to the people whose
hospitality makes it possible for us
to be here.”
I asked him what it is about his
management and leadership style
that has made him so successful.
“I believe in a consensual
management style that encourages
the free flow of ideas because
wisdom does not reside in the head
of one person. I take active interest
in the development of people and
understand that they may make
mistakes. I am very passionate about
what I do and try to instil the same
passion, work ethic and discipline
in the people who work for me. It
is important to get their buy in and
align them to the vision which then
allows you to step back and delegate
as I often do.”
18 EXPATRIATE
19WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
Character
Jonah is undoubtedly hard-
working and often descends to the
ground level to get things done. This
is what earned him the respect of
fellow miners as a boy and made him
achieve phenomenal success as a
mine manager. As an African pioneer
in the corporate space, he does not
shy away from challenging the status
quo and can be credited for changing
some of the perceptions of Africans
in management.
The author observes that
“Jonah was determined to build a
‘First’ World company, to dispel the
unspoken belief that coming from
the ‘Third’ World implied that he
would be a third-rate businessman.”
Jonah also seems to understand the
limits of his ability. The book notes
that he twice turned down an offer
of the vice-presidency of Ghana,
a move which also illustrates his
humility.
“Part of the problem of political
leadership in Africa is that everyone
thinks that they can be president,”
he said to me. “I do not believe that
the skill set I possess as a business
leader is necessarily applicable to the
political arena. I have been available
to a number of African heads of state
for consultation but taking up a
political role has never been part of
my calculations.”
His modesty is further
demonstrated by his pushing for the
merger even when it appeared as
though his role would be diminished
as a result thereof.
Loyalty and trust are also
fundamental to his management
style. He defended his CFO Keatley a
number of times when other players
were happy to have him sacrificed as
a scapegoat for Ashanti’s financial
difficulties. Sir Jonah’s ability to stay
strong during this turbulent time,
when others were noted in the book
to have experienced strokes and
hypertension, also shows his physical
and mental strength in times of
adversity.
Jonah also gives back. It was for
his contributions as a businessman
and philanthropic work, particularly
in education, that he received an
Honorary Knighthood from Queen
Elizabeth II.
“That was a humbling experience
and so was receiving The Star of
Ghana which is my country’s highest
award. It imposes a certain obligation
on you to stay on course and
motivates you to bring others along
as others did for you as management
is certainly not a one man show.”
It is in this spirit of bringing
others along that he now chairs
Jonah Capital, the entity he founded
following his retirement from Anglo
Gold Ashanti in 2005 after 37 years
of service. It is based in Johannesburg
with a second office in Ghana
and is geared towards igniting the
economic progress of the African
continent by acting as a viaduct to
increase foreign investment. Jonah
continues to serve on the boards and
advisory councils of many prominent
entities including Standard Bank.
- KC ROTTOK
20 EXPATRIATE
erald Mahinda is a busy
man. It comes with the
territory when you are
charged with managing
over a thousand employees at South
Africa’s second largest brewer –
Brandhouse. I was therefore quite
fortunate to secure a twenty minute
conversation with him on his way to
the Brandhouse sponsored Pitch and
Polish Entrepreneurship competition
at Melrose Arch in
Johannesburg.
Briefly tell us
about your
b a c k g r o u n d
leading up to your
current position.
I completed
a Bachelor of
Commerce degree
at the University
of Nairobi and soon after qualified
as a Certified Public Accountant
in Kenya. After a few years at a
security firm where I worked as a
graduate trainee, I joined a multi-
national insurance company where
I was, for six years, working in the
department responsible for Kenya,
Uganda and Zimbabwe. I later
joined Standard Chartered where I
worked as finance director for five
years. Prior to moving to South
Africa, I was Managing Director (MD)
for East Africa Breweries (EABL), a
beer company operating in Kenya,
Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi
and Southern Sudan.
How did you find the change
from being a financial director to
managing director?
I took a decision early in my
career that my accounting studies
would only be a stepping stone to
specialising in other areas. I believe
my strengths now lie in change
management. The only constant in
business is change. When I was at the
bank, we went through a significant
automation process. During my
stint in insurance, we had to amend
the way we do things in a bid to
become the leading underwriter in
our region. At EABL, we transformed
the company from a government
owned entity with no marketing
function to a profitable brand driven
business. We moved from having 24
sales representatives to having 160
overnight. I believe that if you are not
mindful of change, somebody else
will overtake you. At Brandhouse,
over 60% of our employees are
under the age of 35 and they are
engrossed in new technologies such
as social media. I cannot handle them
the same way I handle the older
executives and we must therefore
structure the organisation in a way
that accommodates all age groups.
Having been an expatriate in many
parts of the continent, what is
your view of
its economic
prospects?
I actually do not
like the term
‘expatriate’. It has
this connotation
of a person who
doesn’t change; a
person who comes
from a different
country to impose
how things are done there in a new
environment. When I went to Nigeria
for a year, I did not go there just to
share the skills I possessed but also
to learn. It was a two way process as
I widened my knowledge of business
in West Africa. 20% of Africa’s
population is sitting in Nigeria and
it is said that Nigerians are some of
the happiest people on earth. The
country is also the seventh largest
oil producer and as governance
improves, wealth is going to filter to
all of its people.
In East Africa, where I began my
career, oil reserves are being
21WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
GERALD MAHINDAB r a n d h o u s e S o u t h A f r i c a M a n a g i n g D i r e c t o r
“We have invested over 400 million euros in SA which is the ninth
largest beer consuming country in the world.”
uncovered in most countries in the
region. The total population rivals
that of the United States of America
and I believe the wealth is in the
numbers as they indicate the size
of your consumer base. In ten years’
time, North Africa is likely to be
democratic. In Southern Africa, if you
look at what is happening in places
like Zambia, Angola, Mozambique
and South Africa, you cannot
help but be optimistic about the
continent. I think the fears that some
investors have regarding the African
continent like political tensions, poor
infrastructure, lack of electricity and
corruption are just excuses. In a span
of ten years with these challenges,
we shifted EABL from a market
capitalisation of $180 million to $2.5
billion and increased profit by ten
times.
How did you end up at Brandhouse
and how has the experience of
managing the company and moving
to South Africa been?
Diageo is the largest premium
drinks company in the world and
also a 50% shareholder of EABL.
The company also has a 52% stake
in Guinness Nigeria and is a major
shareholder of Brandhouse in South
Africa. When the opportunity came
to move within the group, I wanted
to stay in Africa because I believe
that the future of business is on this
continent. SA is the ninth largest beer
consuming country in the world and
as such it is a significant prospect.
My team and I have overseen
growth in employee numbers from
200 to over a thousand. We have
invested about 410 million Euros in
establishing an operational brewery
in Johannesburg. Brandhouse boasts
a fine team of executives as well
as a good organisational structure.
My family has also settled in quite
well in Cape Town and as such I will
probably be here for the foreseeable
future. - KEITH KUNDAI
“I think the fears that some investors have regarding the African continent like political tensions, poor infrastructure, lack of electricity and corruption
are just excuses.....”
South Africa office - Pamoja Capital (Pty) Limited, The Forum Building, Maude Street,Sandton, Johannesburg
Tel: +27 11 234 7641 Fax: +27 11 234 7643E-mail: [email protected]
Kenya office - Pamoja Capital Limited, Executive Business Suites, 3rd floor, K-REP Centre Wood Avenue, Kilimani, Nairobi
Tel: +254 20 238 6842/3 or +254 71 102 9100 Fax: +254 20 801 14502E-mail: [email protected]
wireless connectivity, fax, scan and print
With an on-site restaurant, 24-hour front desk service and airport shuttle services, One World
Hotel offers warmth, convenience and tranquility…more than just ‘a place to lay a weary
head’. Located in Kempton Park just 3kms away from OR Tambo International Airport and
2kms away from the Rhodesfield Gautrain Station, One World boasts modern, tastefully
furnished rooms with: private bathrooms, air-conditioning, flat screen TV’s, reading desks and
sofa’s, safes, mini-bars, high speed WiFi access, as well as tea and coffee making facilities.
One World Hospital ity Group. 26A Albatross Street Kempton Park, Johannesburg. Telephone: +27 11 394 2300, Cellphone: +27 82 836 7680. For rates information or bookings, contact: Coryn Kamatu or Godfrey Kamatu on [email protected]/reservations@oneworldhospital itygroup.com
YOUR COMFORT IS OUR PRECEDENCE!
www.oneworldhospitalitygroup.com
KELE
LE 0
06
• Staff Strategic Retreats and Teambuilding • Conferencing facilities• Honeymoon packages and Adventure tours
SERVICES:• Accommodation• Air-ticketing• Packaged Tours and Safari’s
elow are the responses from
our recent interview with
Sankofa Insurance Brokers
director and co-owner
William Kwaku Ayim-Yeboah.
Tell us about yourself and your
career leading up to this point.
I was born in Ghana in 1966 and
left the country at the age of two. Our
family moved to Zambia where I did
my early schooling and, in 1983, we
relocated to Umtata which is where
I wrote my insurance examinations.
I worked for Transkei Insurance
Brokers before moving to Cape Town
as a regional director for Thebe Risk
Services. I was later head-hunted
by Glenrand MIB in Johannesburg
where I was responsible for sales and
marketing nationally and in the rest
of Africa until 2009 when I left to start
Sankofa. I have several professional
qualifications including membership
of the Institute of Directors and the
Institute of Risk Managers of SA.
What does Sankofa mean and
what relevance does the name have
to an insurance brokerage firm?
Sankofa is a concept that comes
from the Akan people of Ghana. It
teaches us to reach back and gather
the best of what our past has to teach
us and apply it to the present so as to
have a better future. It is our business
philosophy as our team brings to the
firm a wealth of experience acquired
over several years to not only provide
an informed service, but also utilise
the relationships that we have
developed over the years to run our
own business. We have an extensive
range of industry experience having
also been exposed to specialised
insurance products such as crop
and aviation insurance. It is also
consistent with insurance as one
applies the knowledge of the losses
one has seen others experience in
the past to take out insurance in the
present so as to safeguard assets
from losses in the future.
What services does Sankofa
offer and what are the benefits of
choosing them?
We provide short term insurance
cover for individuals, small businesses,
large corporate enterprises and
the public sector with a client list
that includes the National Home
Builder Registration Council, the
Polokwane Airport, African Romance
and a number of companies and
municipalities. My fellow director
and shareholder Gugu Mkhize has a
finance background and handles the
bulk of the company’s compliance
issues as well as assisting with the
personal lines cover department.
We have two other consummate
insurance professionals in Mike
Gumenge and Elizabeth Mandizadza.
Direct insurers would rather deal
with clients directly; they create
the perception that this is cheaper
for you when in fact this is cheaper
for them. They do not take the
time to understand your profile and
individual needs but instead focus
on selling you one standard product.
All you base your decision on is
price which frequently is not the
best indicator of a good deal. When
things go wrong, they have deep
pockets for legal teams to deal with
you as a lonely voice. On the other
hand, given our relationships with
numerous underwriters, not only
may certain disputes not necessarily
end up in litigation, we can also seek
a competitive quote.
As Sankofa is fairly small, we
are able to provide a personalised
service to our clients by tailoring
the cover specifically for their assets
and liabilities. Our clients are our
partners and in the event of a claim,
we take on the burden to minimise
the discomfort that our partner is
already experiencing. The client ends
up retaining us and as a result we get
continuous referrals. We also have a
lower cost structure than the larger
broking firms meaning that we can
offer lower premiums to our clients
from the same insurance companies
that these firms deal with.
What are the challenges you
face as an insurance broker?
Despite being a very sensible
product, insurance is viewed as a
grudge purchase. Moreover, many
people do not understand the role
that we play and confuse us with
insurance agents who act on behalf
of the insurance company. If an
agent makes a mistake, it is only
the insurance company that you
can sue. We however act on behalf
of the client and therefore require
professional indemnity cover as we
could face a lawsuit in the event of a
dispute.
Another challenge is getting
people to trust a small insurance
broking entity. They should in fact
not be concerned seeing as we co-
operate with other brokerage firms
SANKOFA’SWILLIAM YEBOAHEXPERIENCE THAT INSURES YOUR TOMORROW
26 EXPATRIATE
to compete with the best out there.
Our offering rivals any of the big
name service providers in the indutry
today.
What is the state of the insurance
industry today?
We provide short term
The industry is transforming very
slowly; there are still very few 100%
black owned insurance brokerages.
Most insurance companies are
going the call centre route where you
deal with multiple people depending
on the matter in question. That is
one benefit that we bring to the table
as we eliminate that hassle from our
clients from the time we originate
the claim through to our provision of
advice and attending to claims.
The big insurance broking firms
are also consolidating and putting a
lot of skilled individuals out of work
and it is small businesses like ours
that are actually employing some
of these professionals and helping
in the national objective of easing
unemployment.
What are the future plans for the
company?
Given our strategic location in
SA, we plan to expand our footprint
from here through partnerships with
similar entities across the continent
to become a fully-fledged African
firm. Internationally, we already have
business partners in Arthur Gallagher
as well as access to Lloyds of London.
- KEITH KUNDAI
011 025 6566www.sankofaib.co.za
“Direct insurers would rather deal with clients directly; they create the perception that this is cheaper for you when in fact this is cheaper for them.....”
COLLEEN LOWE MORNA T H E P H O E N I X O F G E N D E R L I N K S
ounding CEO of the South
African Commission for
Gender Equality (CGE)
Colleen Lowe Morna did not
have much of a childhood. Born on a
mission in Zimbabwe (then Southern
Rhodesia) to self-exiled South
African parents, she was caught in
the vicious war that surrounded
Zimbabwe’s independence struggle
in 1975. Soon after neighbouring
Mozambique became independent,
half the students at Chikore Mission
Secondary School where Colleen
and her siblings were the only white
students left to join the Zimbabwe
National Liberation Army. The school
became the target of the Rhodesian
security force venom
with the Lowes
becoming the subject
of much suspicion.
“It was a
harrowing period,”
she recalls. “We
lived under curfew with bombs and
landmines going off regularly. It was
quite common for dead bodies to be
ferried onto the school grounds.”
Just before Colleen finished
high school, the white minority
government shut the school and
stripped Colleen’s parents of their
citizenship. The family moved to
Botswana where she completed high
school and they only returned to
Chimanemani, Zimbabwe soon after
independence in 1981.
Colleen got a scholarship to the
well-known Waterford Kamhlamba
School in Swaziland where she
was classmates with the likes of
Zinzi Mandela. Continued excellent
academic results earned her another
scholarship, this time to the Ivy
League Princeton University in
the United States where she met
husband Kofi Morna in very odd
circumstances.
“He was the president of the
African Students Association and
spearheaded the Association’s
protest of my scholarship. They did
not understand how a scholarship
meant for an African could be given
to a white person. As fate would
have it, Kofi and I both worked in
the kitchen and we inevitably began
talking. He was very surprised that
I knew a lot about the continent
including his native Ghana. Shortly
thereafter, I received a call from the
Association saying they had deemed
me worthy of membership. ‘Thanks,
I’m so flattered’, I said!”
Kofi and Colleen got married in
1983 in Zimbabwe and both of their
daughters were born there. She took
a position at the Commonwealth
Secretariat as a senior researcher and
was sent to SA in 1991 in anticipation
of the country’s first democratic
election. She became a South African
citizen by descent in 1994.
“Citizenship is what is in your
heart. I was born in Zim, exiled in
Botswana, studied in Swaziland,
graduated in the US, worked in the
UK and settled in SA. This year I
celebrated the thirtieth anniversary
of my first visit to my husband’s
country Ghana. I feel at home in any
African country and I am indeed a
citizen of the globe.”
With the birth of SA’s new
constitution came a number of
institutions established by the
document’s ninth chapter. Amongst
this was the CGE headed by Colleen
who was required to work with a
number of full time commissioners,
an arrangement that did not work
out well.
“The CGE, like the rest of
the Chapter 9
institutions, was not
well structured. As
the commissioners
were retained on
a full time basis,
they frequently
crossed paths with
the administrators and as head of
administration I was frequently
drawn into these conflicts.”
The unpleasant relationship
culminated in Colleen parting ways
with the CGE and subsequently
taking the Commission to court
for unfair labour practices. She
was victorious and used part of the
compensation she received to start
a non-profit organisation known as
Gender Links which today addresses
gender issues across Southern Africa.
“Our first staff member Zohra
Khan described Gender Links as the
phoenix bird that would rise from
the ashes that were my CGE ordeal.
We gave the organisation that name
as we believed that there are various
“Citizenship is what is in your heart. I was born in Zim, exiled in Botswana, studied in Swaziland, graduated in the US, worked in the UK and settled in SA..”
27WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
22 EXPATRIATE
ExpaT-TainerS
bits of energy working together to
address gender concerns and our
purpose would be to link them. We
envision a Southern Africa in which
women and men are free to realise
their full potential in both their
private and public lives.”
Colleen has strong social roots
in issues of justice having been
raised by parents who had managed
to liberate themselves from a racial
South Africa despite being ostracised
by their families. She notes that the
issue of gender inequality has always
been placed on the back burner of
the social agenda and celebrates the
organisation’s ten years of redressing
this.
“Our major footprint has been
the campaign for the adoption of
the SADC Protocol on Gender and
Development. Since 2005, about 40
organisations campaigned for this
protocol which has 28 points to be
achieved by 2015. We produce an
annual barometer measuring the
progress of the protocol.”
Attending to this protocol is one
of about 16 Gender Links projects.
The organisation has offices in
ten Southern African offices with
numerous interns and 26 members
of staff. In addition, the entity
recently set up a 20-room guest
house in Observatory Johannesburg
that employs a further 10 people.
She concludes by telling us more
about the guest house.
“The GL Cottages is part of our
strategy to diversify. Most of our
funding comes from donors but we
would also like to generate some of
our own income as this will better
enable us to further our vision. GL
Cottages is also ideal for cost saving
as we were spending a lot of money
each year on conference facilities.
Guests to the Cottages enjoy the
warm hospitality of the wonderful
staff, and they can leave knowing
that their patronage is an investment
in social justice.”
- KC Rottok
araka Bora in Swahili means
more or better blessings. This
is the name conferred upon
the accounting and financial
services company in Houghton
founded by Harold Olukune.
“I thought it had a nice ring
to it,” Olukune recalled when we
met recently to discuss his road to
entrepreneurship.
“The name also captures three
important elements. My Kenyan
roots, my Christian upbringing and
finally the fact that we perceive
ourselves as adding value to clients
enabling them to do ‘more’. They can
focus on their core competencies
while we take over their financial
services function. Our vision is to
be the trusted accounting, financial
management and high level tax
service provider and advisor for the
entrepreneur. We are not your typical
accountants who love to operate in
a controlled environment; we thrive
even where there are minimum
controls to provide comprehensive
financial reporting while assisting in
improving processes.”
Olukune arrived in South Africa
soon after completing O level studies
in Kenya. He earned a matriculation
exemption after a year at Capital
College in Pretoria and joined Rhodes
University to pursue a Bachelor of
Commerce degree.
“Rhodes was a wonderful
experience. I was president of the
Weights and Aerobics Club and was
also one of the founders of the East
African society. There were a lot of
foreign students like myself who
“One entrepreneur I met
through a friend was Modise Motloba
of Quartile Capital. He needed
assistance within the accounting
processes of one of his companies.
I did this on a part time basis and
impressed by my work, he requested
me to provide additional services to
the Quartile Group.”
On the back of this assignment,
Olukune managed to leave EY in 2009
to focus on Baraka Bora on a full time
basis with fellow EY alumnus Thabiso
Madiba joining him as partner in the
assurance services division of the
new company. He credits wife Grace,
an engineer at Eskom, for supporting
him in his move away from a regular
salary to self-employment. From just
two people in the business, Baraka
Bora has now grown to a team of 13.
“I have a great team that provides
a variety of services to small
and medium sized enterprises
including book-keeping, financial
management, tax, financial and
process strategy, corporate finance
and internal and external audit. We
also do valuations, due diligences and
assist with corporate restructuring.”
The company has a flat structure as
opposed to a hierarchy which allows
for open communication. Olukune
said that he manages his team with
an open door policy and thrives in
delegation. He believes that being
an expatriate has its challenges such
as battling with conversations in the
corporate environment conducted in
local languages as well as occasional
xenophobic tendencies. He however
also views being a foreigner as a
positive thing.
provided good company and some
became close friends.”
One of the close friends Olukune
made at Rhodes is Samuel Mokorosi
from Lesotho. He was the best man
at Olukune’s wedding and is now a
director of one of the Baraka Bora
Companies. Samuel and Olukune
lived together in Johannesburg when
the latter got a job at Ernst and Young
(EY) in 2003.
“EY recruited me while I was
still at Rhodes and I decided to
pursue my Honours degree part
time while pursuing a training
contract with them. I was placed in
the Financial Services division of the
Audit department which I loved as
I wanted to join the Treasury team
and things like financial derivatives
fascinated me. I was stationed at
ABSA and my knowledge of financial
instruments grew to the point that I
was called upon to provide training
to younger trainees in this area and
was frequently called into treasury
product debates at the firm.”
On completion of his articles,
Olukune was retained at EY as an
assistant manager. He struggled with
the first part of the South African
Institute of Chartered Accountants
(SAICA) board examinations
which he is still pursuing through a
Chartered Institute of Management
Accounting (CIMA) qualification. This,
together with seeking SA permanent
residency status, was one of the
primary reasons why he stayed on at
the firm. He was also interacting with
a lot of entrepreneurs and decided
that he would only leave EY when he
was ready to become one himself.
Harold Olukune Accounting Your Blessings Through Baraka Bora
30 EXPATRIATE
“We are not your typical accountants who love to operate in a controlled environment; we thrive even where there are minimum controls to provide comprehensive financial reporting while assisting in improving processes.”
31WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
“The fact that you come from a
different culture enables you to see
things from a different perspective. In
addition, being an expatriate pushes
you to go the extra mile as you
are mindful of your status and can
therefore not take the opportunities
you have been presented with for
granted.”
Olukune is also a pastor at His
People Church, Johannesburg. He
believes in the will of God and that
the destiny of Baraka Bora is to
become a global organisation that
will cover much more than what the
entity currently offers. The company
has also been registered in Kenya
and hopes to commence operations
there in the near future.
“I have this vision of myself
standing in New York surrounded by
friends and colleagues cutting a red
ribbon to mark the opening of our
offices there. I am inspired by the
likes of Brian Joffe of Bidvest who
turned a personal project into an 80
billion Rand empire through smart
investments and diversification.”
- Keith Kundai
32 EXPATRIATE
“A Russian pilot descended and walked gingerly aside to puff a cigarette and take a couple of sips out of a bottle he had tucked into his back pocket. A few minutes later, we sat on wooden benches as he powered down the stony runway and commandeered the old machine into the sky.”
CONQUERING THE CONGO
34 EXPATRIATE
ExpaT-TraveL
CONQUERING THE CONGO
35WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
ExpaT-TraveL
Shutterstock.com
bout a third of the way
from Nairobi to Kinshasa,
the pilot comes on the
public address system
interrupting the soothing music that
I was listening to.
“Dear passengers,” he begins
with a concerning tone, “We have
noted that the cabin pressure
appears slightly abnormal and we
will therefore have to return to
Nairobi to change aircrafts before
resuming our journey. This is just for
safety reasons; you
should have no cause
for alarm.”
On returning to
Kenyan airspace, his
now familiar voice
returns.
“Ladies and gentlemen,
unfortunately the aircraft is full of
fuel. It is difficult to land the aircraft
when it is this heavy and we therefore
have to fly around the Ngong Hills in
a circular motion to combust some
fuel before landing. We apologise for
any inconvenience caused.”
I shut my eyes to avoid feeling dizzy
as the plane does several laps around
the hills I once climbed as a boy.
Twenty minutes later we touch down
at our original point of departure.
There are several confused looks
from the Congolese passengers who
do not have an adequate command
of the English language to have
grasped the pilot’s commentary.
Those who do, explain the situation
to their fellow countrymen who have
a late introduction to the unfolding
drama.
Bottles of mineral water are
passed around as we board a different
aircraft which proceeds uninterrupted
to Ndjili Airport Kinshasa. The
diamond mining company that has
retained the services of my employer
have sent someone (and a few ten
dollar bills) to escort me out of the
airport.
Our journey to the city
encounters a small glitch when our
green Landover is stopped by some
hungry looking policeman. The driver
explains something to the officer
in Lingala before pointing at me.
The officer salutes respectfully and
sends us on our way. We had barely
accelerated when I was stunned by
some profound roar of laughter. I
later found out that the driver had
claimed that I was a senior member
of the presidential army.
T h e
following day was
a Sunday and to
pass time, the local
staff took me to a
sanctuary by the
Congolese river for
a rare species of
monkey known as
the Bonobo. It was an interesting
experience, the highlight of it was
when I met these group of women
who had been retained by the Park
to take care of young abandoned
monkeys, each of them acting as the
‘mother’ of two or three of these
creatures.
M o n d a y
a r r i v e d
ExpaT-TraveL
“The pilot stunned us by saying: It is difficult to land the aircraft when it is this heavy and we therefore have to fly around these hills in a circular motion to combust some fuel before landing....”
37
and I was back at Ndjili Airport, this
time to catch a flight to Tshikapa.
No pre-booking required, we simply
reported to a kiosk at the corner of
the airport where dollars changed
hands and we were given receipts
which allowed us through the gate
and onto the runway. The aircraft
belonging to a local airline company
stood in wait in the hot sun and
we were directed to walk into in
through a ramp at the rear of it. The
accountant I was travelling with
explained that it probably was a
cargo plane that had been converted
into a passenger
carrier.
A banana and a
coke later, we arrived
at Tshikapa where
we had to wait a
further three hours
for our next flight to
the diamond mine in
Nsumbula. As we waited, the elderly
accountant expressed his joy at
finally travelling to the mine which is
not too far from his home. He would
finally get to see his mother after
thirty years. The lack of a national
road network in the Democratic
Republic of Congo meant that flights
were the only means to access rural
areas and for three decades the man
had not had adequate finances to
as the birds flew left and right over
the blue brown river.
We eventually land and before I
had time to thank the Lord, we hop
onto an old Landover and struggled
through all kinds of mud to get to
the mine. Darkness descended as
we drove through the gates where
we were met by a tasty meat filled
dinner, a cold shower and a warm
bed.
I had conquered the heart of
the Congo, and this was just the
beginning.
- KC Rottok
pay for a flight home.
Suddenly there was commotion.
All eyes gazed into the sky as the sun
was eclipsed by a cloud of smoke
signalling the arrival of our small
aircraft. A Russian pilot descended
and walked gingerly aside to puff a
cigarette and take a couple of sips
out of a bottle he had tucked into
his back pocket. This as they loaded
barrels of fuel onto the plane and
my companion paid for our onward
journey.
There were only three of us on
a small wooden bench watching
the pilot’s colleague standing close
to the barrels of oil as the Russian
powered down the stony runway
and commandeered the old machine
into the sky. As we flew very low, I
trained my eyes onto the green
canopy beneath me - the beauty of
Africa unconfined
ExpaT-TraveL
“The lack of a national road network in the Democratic Republic of Congo meant that flights were the only means to access the rural area and for 30 years, the man had not had adequate finances to pay for his flight home....”
Briefly tell us about your background
leading up to your current position?
I studied in the USA and hold a
Masters of Business Administration
(MBA) in Economics and a second in
International Finance. I subsequently
worked for Citi Bank in New York
for 12 years and thereafter joined
the World Bank as a consultant for
five years. I then served the UN
Development Programme for 15
years which included moving to SA
in 1995 to open the UNDP offices
here. In 2001, I was appointed DRC’s
ambassador to SA.
What have been the highlights
of your career so far?
When I was at Citi Bank, there
were only four Africans who were
serving in the banking industry at
the level of ‘Vice President’. In that
position, I met quite a number of
world leaders, some of whom wanted
me to be their personal banker. I also
created a special programme at the
bank to train young black South
Africans in anticipation of a free
South Africa. One of the trainees,
Gabi Magamola who now heads
African Bank has written a book in
which I am mentioned.
At the UN, one of my highlights
was meeting Nelson Mandela soon
after his release from prison in 1990.
My senior at the time Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf (now Liberian President) and I
were charged with the responsibility
of speaking to him about whether or
not sanctions against SA should be
lifted. I still remember his response:
“Just because I am free does not
mean SA is free.”
As ambassador, it was a momentous
occasion when my president asked
me to assist in setting up the Inter
Congolese dialogue at Sun City. It is
because of that process that DRC has
peace today.
Finally, I was selected by Prince
Charles to serve on his advisory
board for the conservation of the
world’s forests.
I am ambassador in the country
that has the biggest number of
Congolese in the diaspora anywhere
in the world. We have a large number
of students as well as a varied number
of professionals including geologists,
lecturers and business people. There
are about 500 Congolese doctors
in SA. We also have a number
of economic refugees in the
country. That said, my biggest
challenge is the bridge
between DRC and SA. It
is like a highway with four
lanes heading to DRC and only
one coming back this way. The
challenge is to address this trade
imbalance.
What does being the Dean of the
Diplomatic Corps entail?
The position of dean is
accorded to the longest
serving ambassador in the
country. My responsibility
is to express the common
views of the diplomatic
38 EXPATRIATE
BEN M’POKOD R C A M B A S S A D O R T O S A A N D D E A N O F D I P L O M AT I C C O R P S
“We recently signed an agreement with SA to develop the biggest
hydro-electric dam in the world producing
enough electricity for the continent’s needs.”
Know Your Envoy
39WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
Know Your Envoy
community here to the South
African government and vice versa.
It is a challenge because Pretoria
has the second largest diplomatic
community after Washington DC.
It presents a challenge for the dean
but it is also a great opportunity for
each individual ambassador as you
get an opportunity to interact with
people from countries you may not
know much about. The size of the
community also means you can
influence government decisions.
For instance, SA has about 140
envoys while there are only about
60 diplomats in Kinshasa. This
means I can get to interact with a
representative of a certain country
here that is not represented in the
DRC and by sending information
back home, influence my country’s
interaction with that nation.
What investment opportunities are
there in the DRC?
The DRC held its second
democratic election late last year.
Voter registration was high and a
commendable 58% of registered
voters turned out to vote. There
were some challenges particularly
with logistics as it is a very large
country. In addition, there was
not as much support from the
international community as there
was during the first democratic vote
in 2006. The country is now calm
and presents significant investment
opportunities. We have almost
every mineral known to man; in fact
today’s technology has not yet found
uses for some of the minerals in the
country. We have about 80 million
hectares of dormant arable land
that is suitable for agriculture. We
recently signed an agreement with
SA to develop the biggest hydro-
electric dam in the world producing
enough electricity for the continent’s
needs. There are also significant
opportunities in infrastructure and
telecommunication.
What do you do in your spare time?
I enjoy playing tennis, jogging
and fishing. I also spend time
gardening - every vegetable that I
eat in my residence was grown in my
backyard.
- Carol MalonzaExpats Advert2PATHS 11/30/11 2:50 PM Page 1
Composite
C M Y CM MY CY CMY K
Know Your Envoy
Expats Advert2PATHS 11/30/11 2:50 PM Page 1
Composite
C M Y CM MY CY CMY K
LISTEN LIVE ONLINE AT www.planetradio.co.zaContact us at [email protected] or 011 326 4300
Planet Radio reflects the life of lovers of music from across Africa and the world.
Wale Akinlabi From Houseboy to Household Name
“When a hardworking talented Nigerian comes to a place like SA where systems work, he can do very well as long as he adapts his thinking. I am a living example of that....”
s I sit in the lobby of
Planet Image’s offices
in Randburg, I take in
my surroundings while
waiting for the founder of the
company Wale Akinlabi to arrive.
There’s a receptionist on the phone,
a first room that serves as the editing
bay, a second closed door leading to
the unknown, a third door housing
the marketing department, a fourth
that leads to the radio recording
studio and a final door that opens
into the Good Morning Africa
recording area where a few West
Africans are playing a video game.
Wale arrives and leads me into his
office where he asks a couple of
staffers who are watching DSTV
there to excuse us.
“As you can see, this is a very
relaxed environment.” he begins. “I
believe that the office should not
be the type of place where people
spend their time looking at the clock
waiting for five o’clock to arrive.
They understand that as long as they
deliver, they can enjoy themselves as
much as they want.”
Wale’s unusual management
style includes a compulsory prayer
meeting for staff on Thursday’s and
video shooting the Sunday service
at Randburg’s Redeemed Christian
Church of God which his company
does for no fee.
“It is only because of my strong
spiritual walk with God that I have
come this far,” he says.
Wale’s long journey to success
began when he moved to Lagos after
secondary school. His family could
“I realised that I was being
underpaid and requested a pay rise
from my employers. I was earning
about R300 a month and when they
declined to increase it, I decided to
resign. I was fortunate to get a big
crusade shooting assignment whose
proceeds I used to start Planet Image
Nigeria.”
Using the contacts Wale had in
advertising, Planet Image got several
assignments to produce promos
in Nigeria. Everything was going
swimmingly until an intimate friend
forged his signature and he was
stripped of all his possessions.
“Having lost everything, I decided
to move to SA. I had previously met
Gerd Muller and Mario Nicollet at a
film festival and they allowed me to
work for their production company in
Johannesburg for no pay. I used the
experience to understand the South
African market and realised that
in this country, it is difficult to get
assignments without a proven local
track record.”
It was then that Wale decided on
a new strategy. He would come up
with ideas, shoot a few episodes and
sell the programme to an interested
network. He returned to Nigeria in
2004 and pitched the show Star Zone
featuring Nollywood entertainers to
the newly launched Africa Magic. The
show was approved and with the
proceeds he purchased equipment
which he used to produce Star Zone
South Africa and Star Zone Ghana.
“With the profit I made with
each show, I reinvested in equipment
and increased the number of
not afford university fees and as a
result he got employed by his aunt as
a houseboy doing such menial tasks
as cooking, cleaning and feeding the
dogs. He was later introduced to the
owner of an audio-visual shop where
he got a job as a trainee.
“Each trainee had a cardboard
box in which he would put his clothes
and store away. Then at night when
the kiosk closed, we would open up
the box and lay it on the shop floor
as a bed. It was not easy but I learnt
a lot about shooting events and
editing. I also managed to enrol for a
part time degree in performing arts.”
Wale worked for two years at
the shop and thereafter was
employed by a couple of other
small industry players while doing
freelance assignments like shooting
crusades. He then applied to the top
professional outfit in Nigeria and
was selected as a digital editor out
of a field of 50 applicants.
“That is where I learnt animation
and how to use a professional camera.
My editing skills improved and as
the company had relationships with
advertising agencies, I did a lot of
work for very big brands like Coca-
Cola and Unilever. I excelled to the
point where about 90 percent of the
commercials shown on a leading TV
station on any particular day would
have been shot by me,” he recalls.
Then a regional director at a leading
beverage company, Mike North
asked Wale to assist him in the
production of a documentary. The
piece won a TV journalism award
and North was promoted as a result.
He gave Wale an editing system as a
show of appreciation.
43WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
programmes I had on the channel.
In 2008, I registered Planet Image SA
and we had a variety of programmes
including Chillers, Teenage Rampage,
Africa Weekly and an animation
production for kids called Growing
Time.”
By 2009, the company had
almost 11 programmes on DSTV
with Wale Akinlabi now a household
name as producer. In 2010, Africa
Magic commissioned Good Morning
Africa which prompted Wale to
invest in the studios from which the
company presently operates. In 2011,
he started an internet radio station
streaming from www.planetradio.
co.za .
“I am inspired by the founders
of Multichoice who began their
platform in a caravan. I hope to
continue working with the company
and dream of having my own TV
channel.”
Wale, who recently turned 39,
lives in Blairgowrie Johannesburg.
Although he does a lot of work in
Nigeria, he believes that SA is the
right base for his company.
“Nigeria has a lot of talented
hardworking people but the
environment is not very conducive.
When a Nigerian comes to a place
like SA where systems work and
business is orderly, he can do very
well as long as he adapts his thinking
to the local way of doing things. I am
a living example of that.”
Planet Image employs 17 people
from about ten nationalities and
Wale attributes the success of the
company to their passion and hard
work. He is married to Caroline who
runs a salon in the Johannesburg CBD
and together they have a three year
old son named Abiola.
- KC ROTTOK
100% INDIAN REMY HAIR● Easily manageable
● Good curl retention and firmness
● Luxurious sheen and bounce
● Long lasting and reusable
Bulk hair extensions l Clip - in hair extensionsLace wigs l Lace wig accessories l Machine weft extensions
79 Hill Street
Ferndale
Johannesburg
For Sales and Bookings
Tel: 011 326 4296
www.ruutoshair.com
Acquisitions Rental Management
Let’s handle your Valued InvestmentWe sell freehold and sectional title properties in specialized areas
and other areas by appointment.
Investment from USD 90,000 (2 Bedrooms)
We provide the special legwork to find suitable accommodation and office space for organisations internationally.
We have a team of experienced professional administrators who run the day to day affairs of our portfolio. A network of contactors such
as plumblers, builders and handymen.
Call us now on
011 804 6999, 082 456 9264, 082 422 8847 Fax: 011 802 23206e-mail: [email protected]@[email protected]
For that guaranteed 5 star real estate services
Freehold homes form - USD 180,000
or me, the year 2011 was
all about an emotional and
spiritual pilgrimage. The
intention was to find my
purpose in life in the course of that
year meaning that 2012 would begin
with me being a wiser and more
informed member of society. In the
true spirit of the movie “eat, pray,
love” and against all advice from
a number of individuals, I resigned
from my job and took a hiatus from
my postgraduate studies. I lay on my
bed and stared at the walls.
With all the free time I had
afforded myself I had a great deal
of time for leisure including nights
outs, frequent beauty treatments
and reading mostly spiritual novels.
As the year drew to a rapid end, I
realised that spending an entire year
relaxing had not actually brought
me any spiritual enlightenment. I
had eaten and gained a great deal
of weight which I strangely enjoyed,
I loved which is the most important
thing in life and I prayed a great deal.
But I still did not find the meaning of
life.
I realised that life is a constant
journey and where we are unlikely to
find out its meaning. It is likely that
our purpose in this life is to live it to
the fullest. Love deeply, laugh freely
and devour each day you are given. It
is a broad profound experience and to
limit its meaning to a single isolated
Eating, praying and lovingdefinition is cheating oneself of an
enormous experience. A beautiful
quote sums up my year: “We spend
our lives waiting for the ideal path
to appear in front of us, but what
we forget is that paths are made by
walking, not by waiting.”
Travelling was the only thing left
to complete my year and what
better place than my home country
Uganda which I had not visited
since I was five. After being born in
South Africa and living my entire
childhood and young adult life here,
the experience of home was intense.
It was great to be welcomed at
the airport by your people and to
walk in the streets hearing your
home language being spoken widely.
Nothing compares to being around
people with the same mannerisms as
you and even though the roads were
bumpy, the knowledge that they
were travelled by my forefathers was
enough to bring my life full circle.
The most enjoyable part of my
trip was that I didn’t have to spell
my surname even once! And not
once was I asked “you look different,
which country do you come from?”
It gave me a sense of belonging that
I never even knew I lacked. When I
now speak about my heritage, I can
speak confidently, because I have
experienced the sights, sounds and
smells of my country.
I can look back on 2011 as the
best year ever and now it is time
to join the race again and be a
functional part of the wheel that
keeps the world turning. This past
year equipped me to make the new
one even better! Sheila Lynn Senkubuge
“We spend our lives waiting
for the ideal path to appear
in front of us, but what
we forget is that paths are
made by walking, not by
waiting....”
ExpaT-TalK
“I am based in South Africa purely for operational reasons but my work is largely within the entire continent and takes me to areas like East Africa which I feel I have a deep connection with.”
46 EXPATRIATE
LEE KASUMBA – From ‘Y’ to ‘O’
eslie ‘Lee’ Kasumba was
appointed manager of the TV
music portal Channel O Africa
in April 2011. The Ugandan-
born inspiration holds a BA in
Dramatic Arts from Wits University
and was previously a DJ at the youth
station 99.2 Y FM as well as editor
of Y Mag. We caught up with her
before the December break for this
interview at the MultiChoice offices
in Randburg, South Africa.
What is your typical day at Channel
O like?
I really do not have a typical
day. For instance, when I joined the
channel I was asked at short notice to
pack and go to Nigeria and ended up
spending a week there. This is a new
position that was created to manage
Channel O in the East and West Africa
regions. It was a natural fit for me as
I have a passion for the continent and
given my background and the work
that I have done so far in my career,
I feel that I understand the music of
the continent well enough to fulfil
that role. Channel O Africa falls
directly under MNet Africa which is
managed by Biola Alabi and we get
involved wherever there is a music
element. A good example is assisting
with artist selection for Big Brother
eviction shows. Except for say, our
Monday management meetings, my
work is largely dependent on what
is going on at a particular time. For
example we could be doing a piece
on the Tanzanian Independence
Day and I would be responsible for
co-ordinating this with our Dar es
salaam MultiChoice office and local
video jockey (VJ) to get the material
ready to air.
What have been the challenges and
successes for you since you joined
the channel?
The search for VJ’s from each
country was very exciting. The
experience differed from country to
country and it has been amazing to
be a part of making people’s dreams
come true. One successful VJ said
that a long time ago she wrote it
on a piece of paper that she wants
to work for Channel O alongside KB
(Kabelo Ngakane) and with artists
from all over the continent. That
for me is very fulfilling as all I have
always wanted is to be involved in
work that can change peoples’ lives.
I have also enjoyed travelling around
the continent. In fact, I was recently
telling one of my colleagues that
I need to travel again soon! These
eight months have been awesome,
the best part being the people
that I work with. Their passion and
professionalism are things I had not
previously experienced.
One challenge has been coming
to grips with the whole corporate
structure here which I am now very
familiar with. TV is also different
from radio as it takes longer for one
to see the end product of what you
are working on.
What change do you and your team
wish to bring to Channel O Africa?
Channel O Africa focuses on
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana and
Nigeria. For technical reasons it has
a separate satellite dish feed from
what people would be watching in
Southern Africa. Research has shown
that the audience in these countries
want to see more of themselves in
what they watch and as such we are
keen to address this by airing more
local content.
Our aim is to discover and
showcase new artists while
increasing people’s familiarity with
existing ones. We want to be the
home of African superstars by telling
their stories but not in a tabloid sort
of way. They do this well in places
like America and it has been proven
that the better one knows the artist’s
story, the more likely one is to buy
his or her album or go to his or her
show. We believe that it is time to
ensure that African artists don’t
starve or end up moving overseas in
the search for greener pastures.
Additionally, we want to get
artists to rally behind the continents
issues through the Africa Dreaming
campaign, a good example being
Nonini’s participation in addressing
the misconceptions about albinism
in East Africa.
How many people do you manage
and what is your management style?
I am responsible for the various
VJ’s as well as a number of people in
the different country offices including
those who shoot our material. I like
to have a vision for what we are
aiming to achieve which I put on
paper and share with the team. I
always feel more comfortable asking
the people around me what they
think even when I know what I really
want. It is important for us to weigh
out the pros and cons and that way
the team will be more comfortable
with the eventual direction we take.
47WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZAPic courtesy of Channel O
Lastly, how Ugandan are you?
I have dual citizenship, Ugandan
and South African. Uganda is home
for me. I was born there and speak
Luganda fluently. Even when we
moved to SA I was surrounded by
the Ugandan community here and
travelled to Uganda at least once
a year. When we first moved here,
white South Africans were very
hospitable to me and I learnt to
speak Afrikaans fluently though I
do have some understanding of the
other South African languages. It
was a challenge on radio sometimes
when people would speak their
languages or about how they grew
up. That is why this position is
perfect for me as it has no restriction
when it comes to a particular region
or culture. I am based in South Africa
purely for operational reasons but
my work is largely within the
entire continent and takes
me to areas like East Africa
which I feel I have a deep
connection with.
- KEITH KUNDAI
CONTACT: RUPERT - 072 449 4134BBM PIN: 224711C4FAX: 086 518 2238E-MAIL: [email protected]: www.westsidecomputerden.wozaonline.co.za
Reg: 2007/10858/23
Exquisite Wedding and Event Portraits
My Pretoria to Kampala Road Tripravelling from Pretoria to
Kampala over five days
was a beautiful expedition
albeit very dangerous,
tiresome and requiring immense
preparation for any first-timer.
A colleague and I filtered
through Martins Drift which is the
SA Botswana border post and had
a flawless drive through the narrow
roads that led to the Zambian border.
Unfortunately we arrived shortly
after the 6 p.m. cut off time and had
to join the border post community
for the night. There were over 100
loaded trucks waiting to cross over
into Zambia. I wondered how much
in contraband goods they contained
destined for places as far as Uganda.
Border posts are special. There are
wiry, mean-looking men hanging
around shops and night clubs as their
wives tend cooking pots in make
shift tents. One trucker told me it
is easy to spend a week there before
being cleared.
The following morning we
boarded a ferry that was meant to
take us into Zambia in thirty minutes.
However, we spent over three hours
as the old thing malfunctioned along
the way. Panic-stricken, we found
ourselves stuck on the water with
rain pouring down as we waited for
mechanics to sort out the fault.
Finally we drove onto the land
of the mighty Chipolopolo. It is a
country with a quiet demeanour,
open smiles and an astonishingly
beautiful landscape. I noted a street
named after a former president of
Uganda, Milton Obote. Once in
Lusaka, I found an internet café in
which I updated my Facebook status:
“1800kms down, plenty more to go!”
Zambian girls are pretty and dress
conservatively. I quickly stopped
one pretending to ask for directions.
We asked her to get into the car to
take us to a mall where we could
have fun in the hope that we could
trick her into joining us for the night.
She joined us but after a few hours
she abandoned us after probably
smelling a rat.
After a lonely night, we left for
the Tanzanian border. After about
fifty kilometres, I realized that I had
left my phone at the hotel and we
had to do a U-turn and was ecstatic
to find that it had not been stolen.
Later that day we got to the Zambia-
Tanzania border post of Tunduma
which is infested with thieves who
lay in wait for unsuspecting victims.
As soon as we left customs, we were
tailed by unmistakable thugs
for several kilometres
Hanging on with Hannington
but were fortunate to shake them
off. I suspect that the thugs are
part of a syndicate involving both
custom officials and hotel owners.
The displeasure of being in Tanzania
is compounded by the fact that
this section of the country is
scorching hot, rugged and hardly any
Tanzanians we met could understand
English.
It took us two whole days to
cut across this heated part of the
country and we finally arrived at
the Mutukula Ugandan border post.
Finally things were familiar. Finally, I
was home.
Hannington Kasirye
Istockphoto
Niels
“The platform has grown to build a network of hundreds of thousands of expatriates in over 200 cities. There are about 1700 members in Johannesburg alone.”
B e r t s c h a t
50 EXPATRIATE
nternations GmbH is a German
registered entity that provides an
international social networking
service for expatriates worldwide.
In Johannesburg, there are two hosts
who coordinate the group’s activities
German Johannes von Weyssenhoff
and Dutchman Niels Bertschat.
We got to chat to the latter about
his journey to SA and Internations
Johannesburg.
How did you end up in South Africa?
I used to work for a hospitality
company known as Mise en Place - a
European entity that assists students
with part time jobs in the industry.
The company was involved in the
2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany
and was also selected to assist
Match Hospitality in SA for the
subsequent tournament in 2010. We
partnered with a local professional
services company who assisted
with the training of individuals who
would be engaged to work with us
during the tournament. That is how
I ended up in SA. We trained 5,000
previously disadvantaged people to
attend to all the VIP Suites in all the
selected stadiums during the 2009
Confederations Cup Tournament
and the World Cup in 2010. After the
World Cup I decided to stay on in the
country to continue working with
the local company.
Why did you opt to stay in South
Africa?
I like the honesty of the South
African people. I think, unlike in
Europe, what you see here is what
you get. People here are also very
positive; constantly smiling. I like
the wealth of culture in the country
and the weather is amazing. I was
also doing well with the company
that I was working for which I have
since left to start my own business
along the same lines of career
development. In addition, I live here
with my German girlfriend who has
a contract with one of the big four
audit firms in Johannesburg.
Johannesburg is also not as fast
as Europe. It is at times frustrating
but on the other hand it is less
stressful. I can send a work email over
the weekend and not worry about
following up on a response until the
following Monday. There are also nice
affordable houses for rent in the city.
Tell us about Internations.
Internations was founded
by three German entrepreneurs;
Christian Leifeld, Philipp von Plato,
and Malte Zeeck, and has been online
since September 2007. During their
careers as international consultants
and foreign correspondents, the
founders faced typical expat issues
themselves. Since then the platform
has grown to build a network of
hundreds of thousands of expatriates
in over 200 cities. There are about
1700 members in Johannesburg
alone.
How is the Johannesburg
Internations community doing and
how did you become one of the
hosts?
I was introduced to the
community soon after I arrived in
the country and participated actively
in the monthly meetings. I am also
the organizer of a monthly Dutch
community meeting in Johannesburg
known as the Netherlands Borrel. It
is an informal gathering that was
started by a Dutchman based in the
USA. When the opening to be one
of the hosts at Internations came
up, I was interviewed by a panel at
the Munich office and eventually
selected. It is a voluntary role and our
responsibilities include monitoring
the online Johannesburg forum. We
watch out for inappropriate posts
such as unsolicited advertising.
We also organize community
monthly meetings; so far we have
had Thursday evening gatherings
at various hotels in the Sandton
area. About 100 people attend each
meeting, about a third of them
being South Africans. Other than
Internations Johannesburg, there are
similar groups in Durban, Cape Town
and Pretoria.
- Keith Kundai
Internations Johannesburg Host
51WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
52 EXPATRIATE
The Last Word
Send your CV to [email protected] quoting the relevant reference
0861 788 788 www.antonapps.com 073 788 7880
Africa
SENIOR CORPORATE FINANCE:ProfessionR800k – R1.2mRef: PM005
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTDIRECTOR: FMCGR950k – R1.2mRef: PM006
Mozambique
FINANCIAL PLANNER: FMCGUS$45k – US$50kRef: BC002
Nigeria
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER:FMCGUS$125k– US$135kRef: BB001
Zambia
FINANCE MANAGER:AgricultureUS$130k– US$140kRef: BB004
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: TelecomsUS$120k– US$150kRef: BB005
FINANCE MANAGER: PropertyUS$40k– US$45kRef: BC001
FINANCE MANAGER: AgricultureUS$130k– US$140kRef: DM001
FINANCIAL DIRECTOR: FMCGUS$70k– US$100kRef: PM001
East Africa
FINANCIAL DIRECTOR: SecurityUS$100k – US$140kRef: PM003
FINANCIAL DIRECTOR: FMCG/AgricultureUS$80k – US$120kRef: PM007
Namibia
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT: Tourism US$25k – US$28kRef: BC005
Congo
FINANCE MANAGER: HospitalityUS$130k – US$145kRef: DM005
Zimbabwe
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT:RetailUS$24k– US$30kRef: KH001
FINANCE MANAGER: RetailUS$70k– US$100kRef: KH002
ANALYST: Agriculture/MiningUS$24k– US$50kRef: KH003
GROUP FINANCE MANAGER: ResourcesUS$70k– US$90kRef: KH004
GROUP FINANCIAL DIRECTOR: FMCGUS$150k– US$200kRef: PM002
Tanzania
FINANCE MANAGER: MiningUS$130k – US$145kRef: DM003
Botswana
FINANCE MANAGER: FMCGUS$120k– US$135kRef: BC002
FINANCE ANALYST: Financial ServicesUS$90k– US$120kRef: BB003
PROJECT ACCOUNTANT: ManufacturingUS$25k– US$28kRef: BC003
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT: EngineeringUS$25k– US$28kRef: BC004
FINANCE MANAGER: EngineeringUS$40k– US$45kRef: CB001
Kenya
FINANCE MANAGER:MiningUS$140k– US$150kRef: DM002
SENIOR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANT (IFRS):BankingUS$90k– US$130kRef: PM004
PROJECT ACCOUNTANT:InfrastructureUS$25k– US$30kRef: CB002
FINANCE MANAGER: AgricultureUS$120k – US$135kRef: DM004
Opportunities in Africat the end of last year I
really took it easy and
tuned into the world. I
listened to people and
read what they had to say on blogs,
emails and social networks. It struck
me that many are not happy. They
bear some bitterness towards their
jobs, their parents, their spouses
or some other element of their
existence. They forget that there are
many out there who can only wish
that they had these things in their
lives.
It is about time we started taking
ownership of our lots in life. There
really is no greater power out there
plotting our demise. Sometimes you
rise and sometimes you fall, that is
this thing called life. It’s a rollercoaster
and we just have to ride it.
I believe this is the end of the
world that the doomsayers have been
pointing at. The financial systems are
hanging on by a frail thread. Good for
them! It is greed that got us to where
we are and that had to readjust
itself sooner or later. Societies are
standing up and shouting – the Arab
spring, occupy Wall Street and closer
to home the Nigerians are telling
their government that it is time for it
to be honest.
It is the new world order. This
material world that we live in needs
to be toned down because it is less
human and humane and all about
Christian Louboutins and Ferrari 458
Italias. I am not saying that all those
things are bad or wrong, but the
actions and thoughts that many are
employing to achieve them are what
is causing a profound decay in the
lives we live.
Quite early in the year 2012, I
had a proper lesson of what this life
is all about. Two things happened.
First, I read a book my sister gave
me at Christmas called “The Leader
Who Had No Title”, by Robin Sharma.
It is one of those self help titles and
perhaps not applicable to everyone
but it hit a big fat cord in me. I was
left feeling all positive about life.
The second thing was the passing
on the 3rd of January of a man who
had been close to me for the last 28
years. When I reflected on his life,
I gathered many subtle lessons. I
spent half of my growing life at his
house and just through observation
and the way in which I related
to him and his family, I was
always reminded of what this
life was really all about.
Life is simple! It is
all about being honest,
being humble, treating
each other with respect
and just being there to help
your fellow man when you
can. It is about the depth of
one’s character as opposed
to the depth of one’s wallet.
It is about the soul and the
lessons you leave behind
for the lives you touch
because that is all
you leave.
B e
g r a t e f u l
you are
reading
this. Be
grateful that you have a few months
before the world ends to work
towards being the best you can be.
We don’t know when and we don’t
how, but our days are certainly
numbered. All that will matter in the
end is the testimony to the life that
you have led.
Keep smiling my dear friends,
because whatever it is that you
are going through, good or bad,
it will end. But you on the other
hand, will learn and grow. Yaw Peprah is a self employed entrepreneur pursuing interests in business advisory, consultancy and commodity brokering. www.mondaymail.blogspot.com
THE WORLD IS ENDING, WHAT’S YOUR LEGACY?“In the end, it is about the depth of one’s character as opposed to the depth of one’s wallet…..”
Send your CV to [email protected] quoting the relevant reference
0861 788 788 www.antonapps.com 073 788 7880
Africa
SENIOR CORPORATE FINANCE:ProfessionR800k – R1.2mRef: PM005
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTDIRECTOR: FMCGR950k – R1.2mRef: PM006
Mozambique
FINANCIAL PLANNER: FMCGUS$45k – US$50kRef: BC002
Nigeria
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER:FMCGUS$125k– US$135kRef: BB001
Zambia
FINANCE MANAGER:AgricultureUS$130k– US$140kRef: BB004
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: TelecomsUS$120k– US$150kRef: BB005
FINANCE MANAGER: PropertyUS$40k– US$45kRef: BC001
FINANCE MANAGER: AgricultureUS$130k– US$140kRef: DM001
FINANCIAL DIRECTOR: FMCGUS$70k– US$100kRef: PM001
East Africa
FINANCIAL DIRECTOR: SecurityUS$100k – US$140kRef: PM003
FINANCIAL DIRECTOR: FMCG/AgricultureUS$80k – US$120kRef: PM007
Namibia
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT: Tourism US$25k – US$28kRef: BC005
Congo
FINANCE MANAGER: HospitalityUS$130k – US$145kRef: DM005
Zimbabwe
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT:RetailUS$24k– US$30kRef: KH001
FINANCE MANAGER: RetailUS$70k– US$100kRef: KH002
ANALYST: Agriculture/MiningUS$24k– US$50kRef: KH003
GROUP FINANCE MANAGER: ResourcesUS$70k– US$90kRef: KH004
GROUP FINANCIAL DIRECTOR: FMCGUS$150k– US$200kRef: PM002
Tanzania
FINANCE MANAGER: MiningUS$130k – US$145kRef: DM003
Botswana
FINANCE MANAGER: FMCGUS$120k– US$135kRef: BC002
FINANCE ANALYST: Financial ServicesUS$90k– US$120kRef: BB003
PROJECT ACCOUNTANT: ManufacturingUS$25k– US$28kRef: BC003
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT: EngineeringUS$25k– US$28kRef: BC004
FINANCE MANAGER: EngineeringUS$40k– US$45kRef: CB001
Kenya
FINANCE MANAGER:MiningUS$140k– US$150kRef: DM002
SENIOR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANT (IFRS):BankingUS$90k– US$130kRef: PM004
PROJECT ACCOUNTANT:InfrastructureUS$25k– US$30kRef: CB002
FINANCE MANAGER: AgricultureUS$120k – US$135kRef: DM004
Opportunities in Africa