august 2015 chamber bulletin
DESCRIPTION
5 Common Misconceptions about Chambers Of Commerce, Correct Assistance with Strike Action Resolving, FNB appointed as Gauteng’s banker, Die Strandloper: Sixth EditionTRANSCRIPT
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August Issue
page 6 - 5 Common Misconceptions about Chambers of Commerce
We want to encouragemembers of the East
Rand Chamber ofCommerce & Industry to
submit any and all material we can publishwithin out next Chamber
Bulletin.
The purpose of theChamber Bulletin is to
give you the opportunityto put your company,your products and orservices into a well
compiled document,being sent out to all ourmembers and newsletter
subscribers.
We also want toencourage members to
make sure that theirwebsites are up to date,
if you have new information, or photos,
send them [email protected] or arrange for acompany representativeto come visit you. He willalso be able to take somephotographs we can use
in both the ChamberBulletin and as updates
within your website.
Make use of the servicesyou have at your
disposal.
If you are unsure whatexactly the extent of theservices are you qualify
for as an ERCOCmember, please let us
know and we will get youup to date.
As we are nearing the endof 2015 make sure that
you have covered all thenecessary angles of your
company. Make sureeverything is up to date sothat you can end the year
on a strong note.
page 10 - Correct assistance with strike action resolving
page 14 - Your basic guide to Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF)
page 16 - Keys to maintaining a productive workforce
page 26 - Die Strandloper: Sixth Edition
page 32 - FNB appointed as Gauteng’s banker
20 18
INDEXBusiness News
Bulletin Blogs by Koot van der Walt 6
5 COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUTCHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE:THE BASICSThere are many misconceptions regardingmany brands, products and organizations,and when it comes to the term “chamberof commerce,” confusion and mistakenexpectations are even more likely, eventhough almost everyone has at one stagebelonged to them or at least has heard ofthe term. The lack of understanding is inlarge part self-inflicted because chambersin various towns, cities, regions, provincesand even nations focus on differentsubjects and mostly operate in differentways.
DEFINITION (AS PER WIKIPEDIA)A chamber of commerce (or board of trade) is a form of business network, for example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community. Local businesses are members, and they elect a board of directors or executive council to set policy for the chamber. The board or council then hires a President, CEO or Executive Director, plus staffing appropriate to size, to run the organization.
The first chamber of commerce was founded in 1599 in Marseille, France another official chamber of commerce would follow 65 years later, probably in Bruges, then part of the Spanish Netherlands. Wikipedia – Chamber of Commerce
In South Africa the chamber movement started more than a 120 years ago and the AHI was formed in 1942
As a non-governmental institution, a chamber of commerce has no direct role in the writing and passage of laws and regulations that affect businesses. Wikipedia
The aim of the AHI has always been to not oppose but rather to influence and steer Government decisions favourable for the private sector.
5 COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
1. MEMBERSHIPUnder the Voluntary Association model (VA), which exists in South Africa and many other nations, companies are not obligated to become chamber members. Hence the name ‘Voluntary Association”
Chambers do not operate in the same manner as clubs and “by invitation only membership” societies. , which can bind its members under a formal constitution and or an operations manual (and, thus, can remove them). Business entities pay their dues to belong and expect to receive the benefits of membership as long as they continue to invest in the organization. http://www.swmcchamber.com/faq.htmls.
Bulletin Blogsby Koot van der Walt7
Chambers usually accept any reputable business as a member, provide them with services and charge them a joining and a monthly or annual fee
It is important to note that in most cases it is the company that is the member, not an individual. A member company is then encouraged to involve numerous senior level employees in the work of the chamber. While five, ten or more individuals from a given company will identify themselves as “members” of the chamber, only the organization they work for is counted when a chamber states its size. A company is free to join (pay dues to) multiple chambers and many mid-size to large firms do so (especially neighbours), in order to further advance their companies' market or policy interests.
2. RELATIONSHIPS
The chambers in South Africa is affiliated to mainly two informal Chamber associations, The AHI and The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI). There is no operations manual or franchise arrangement between or among them.
There are some independent chambers who does not belong to any association but rather perform on their own. The JCCI is such an organisation who from time to time breaks their affiliation.
Chambers interact with each other across the nation and the globe – many even maintain formal memberships in other chambers – but the network is informal. In the chamber world, nobody is “in charge” of anybody; a local chamber does not answer to a state or national chamber.
3. POLICY INDEPENDENCE AND COOPERATION
The most difficult aspect for the general public, media, government officials and even some businesses to understand is that there is literally no inherent hierarchical structure in the chamber world. This can be extremely confusing to those who naturally assume that a few thousand entities sharing the same name must be related and that some ordered lineage must exist among them. That is simply not the case in South Africa.
When business and economic policy priorities align, which is usually the case, chambers of all sizes attempt to work together and speak with a unified voice. Inevitably, conflicting positions will arise about some issues, or about strong positions (or lack thereof) of chambers at various levels.
Since businesses are not required to join a chamber (penetration levels vary widely), and because territories overlap, it can be difficult for any one organization, regardless of size, to state that it “speaks for business,” but they do. They earn that privilege by attracting numerous and large heterogeneous employers to their membership and leadership, as well as by utilizing their collective voice on meaningful policy initiatives. In general, the smaller the chamber (and community it represents), the less active the organization will be on the policy/advocacy front. Even small organizations, however, take stands on regional issues ranging from school funding to road development.
The processes of choosing and articulating specific policy positions vary by organization and issue. For the most part, a vote (or expression of consensus) of a chamber board of directors determines the stand to be taken in the name of that chamber on any issue. In recent years, with the increased involvement of public sector and non-profit employers in chambers, consensus-building has become more difficult at all levels. Chamber boards are independent, but they usually take into account the recommendations of state and national organizations when larger issues are considered.
Because the chamber world is not structured around an affiliate or chapter model, such disagreements cannot be solved by a controlling authority. Sometimes the disagreements cause destructive friction which results in bonds between chambers being broken. More often, chambers issue differing position statements and agree to disagree, knowing that the opportunity for cooperation on future issues will be critical for them all.
Bulletin Blogs by Koot van der Walt 8
4. STRUCTURE
All Chambers of commerce in South Africa operate almost exclusively as non-profit entities known Sec 21 Companies or NPO’s. Unlike charities, these NPO”s have the authority under state and SARS tax rules to represent their members in public policy debates. They may lobby and take positions on actual or proposed legislation, subject to local, Provincial and Goverment laws Chamber business models and organizational missions vary significantly. Some chambers may offer services and products that appear to compete with businesses operating within their own territories.
One group of chambers may affiliate with a service provider to offer discounts or other benefits to chamber members (from low-cost office products to health insurance), while another group aligns with a completely different vendor. As a rule, larger chambers tend to rely less on membership dues revenue than their smaller counterparts. About one-third of the chambers of commerce in the US also include economic development corporations and/or tourism and visitors bureaus. Virtually all chambers have revenue sources other than dues; event income is the most common.
Although a chamber is a non-profit entity under SARS law, such a NPO is free to undertake supporting business activities (referred to as “unrelated business income) – publishing, trade shows, insurance programs, etc. In many cases, these activities are subject to business income taxes.
In a few cases, for-profit chambers have been established in some areas. The East Rand Chamber of Commerce and industry is such a chamber , they allow their service provider Chamberlink to earn a profit in the provision of certain services to member companies These business ventures are routinely shunned and fought by traditional non-profit chambers.
5. IF YOU'VE SEEN ONE...
The term “chamber of commerce” is one of the oldest and most well-recognized brands in the world, but there is significant public misunderstanding of its meaning. There is an old adage in the chamber world: “If you’ve seen one chamber, you’ve seen them all.” Others who find themselves frustrated with a desire to apply universal truths to chamber of commerce models point to the Chinese parable of the seven blind men touching different parts of an elephant and coming away describing it differently (“It’s a snake . . . no it’s a tree . . . no it’s a brush on a rope . . .”). In all cases, the whole of a chamber of commerce is greater than the sum of its parts, programs, people and participants.
Tel: 011 397 7729/1271
Fax: 011 397 1139
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.exval.co.za
Unit 9 & 10
Gateway Industrial Park
Graniet Street
Jetpark, Gauteng
Bulletin Blogs by Christine Du Plessis 10
CORRECT ASSISTANCE WITH STRIKEACTION RESOLVING
Correct assistance with strike action resolvingWhen taking a look at the recent strike action headlining our news it is evident that there are many contributing factors which sparked the protest action. We take a look at those reasons and provide some advice on what your rights as a business owner is when it comes your way.
THE UBER PROBLEM
During the course of last week we saw instances of illegal protesting against Uber - an American international transportation Network Company.
Through its Uber mobile app, Uber allows consumers with smartphones to submit a trip request which is then routed to sharing economy drivers for transport services.
The illegal picketing action was launched by metered taxi protesters in Johannesburg in an attempt to intimidate Uber’s customers outside Gautrain stations due to alleged “unfair competition” by Uber. Source: Fin24
TWICKENHAM MINERS’ CONTRACTS ENDED
Approximately 180 Twickenham platinum workers’ contracts were ended by SAN Company, a contractor of Anglo American.
The mine is situated near Burgersfort in Limpopo. Because their access cards to the mine have been blocked the said employees demonstrated at the mine’s entrances.
The workers were informed during 2014 of the closure of the Twickenham shaft for rehabilitation. The shaft was shut down and the workers were placed at another shaft.
The workers under the umbrella of the National Union of Mine Workers (NUM) referred their dismissals to the CCMA for dispute resolution.
NUM spokesperson Steve Pilusa said on Saturday that they have not met with the Company’s management team about the issue at hand yet, but that they are hoping to discuss the way forward soon. According to him the affected miners worked for years without pension and are hoping to negotiate better severance packages than what was offered.
Source: Capricorn Voice
Bulletin Blogsby Christine Du Plessis11
A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF JOB LOSSES AT PUTCO
About 330 Putco bus drivers could lose their jobs if an agreement is not reached between the bus operator and the Gauteng Transport department.
Putco cancelled its services in several parts of Gauteng because it had lost R300 million in servicing them. The department then brought in bus company Autopax to help service the routes for three months.
Putco pulled out of a number of routes because the routes were not sustainable anymore and the company had endured R60 million in losses each year over the past five years.
Putco's Managing Director, Franco Pisapia, said that he is very disappointed in the department’s attitude. According to him the department could have engaged with them sooner, but instead did nothing for six months, and only signed a contract with Autopax at the last minute. He said it “needed a 40% subsidy increase”.
Isaac Mahamba who is the Tshwane Metro Police spokesperson said a total of seven Autopax buses were damaged because they were pelted with stones in Mamelodi during the end of last week.
He also said that a driver and three passengers had to be submitted to hospital with injuries after they were shot during their commute in a Putco bus.
He said Putco was receiving R900 million of the R2 billion the Gauteng department of transport spent on bus subsidies. He said 11 bus operators in the province were left to share the remainder of the money.
Putco drivers are demanding that they be hired by Autopax, at the same rate of pay they had been earning. The department however says they will have to sign new contracts. The matter will be heard in the Labour court tomorrow because they are contesting of two specific clauses in the agreement.
Source: News24
MTN STRIKE
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) launched picketing action on the 20th of May.
"There is a settlement agreement in principle with MTN," general secretary Aubrey Tshabalala told reporters outside the mobile network's office in Fairland, Johannesburg.
MTN is still implementing their “no work, no pay” policy to workers participating in the strike.
Source: Fin 24 Tech
RULES GOVERNING A LEGITIMATE STRIKE
The daily running of a South African business has never been a walk in the park, but considering the amount of “legitimate” reasons why our citizens have decided to take to the streets to demonstrate their anger is definitely open ended.
Labour Laws in South Africa contains specific requirements which, if adhered to, would justify your employees downing tools.
The key is to know how to apply the rules with reference to legitimate strike action.
Bulletin Blogs by Christine Du Plessis 12
Employees may only strike if you have received a notification of their intent to strike. We suggest that as soon as you receive this notification you contact us to provide the correct assistance with strike action resolving.
An employee may only be dismissed during a strike if it was done for a fair reason and according to a fair procedure.
During a legal strike the company does not have to pay workers, unless workers ask that payment in kind (accommodation, food, basic amenities) be continued.
After a strike has ended, an employer may recover the monetary value of payment in kind through civil proceedings in the Labour Court.
Every employer has the option to lock out workers after 30 days has elapsed since the matter was referred to the CCMA and a certificate that the dispute remains unresolved has been issued. The company has to provide applicable parties with 48 hours’ notice if they wish to implement a lock out.
THE EAST RAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S ADVICE TO YOU
Acquire the advice of a legal professional before attempting to resolve matters on your own. Sufficient knowledge of the applicable Main Agreement is vital to ensuring that you adhere to the prescribed Labour Laws.
FREE LABOUR GUIDE:RETRENCHMENTS, CCMA,ARBITRATION, STRIKES, UNIONS,DISMISSAL, AND MORE...
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Bulletin Blogs by Christine Du Plessis 14
YOUR BASIC GUIDE TO UNEMPLOYMENTINSURANCE FUND (UIF)
WHAT IS UIF?
The unemployment insurance system in South Africa is governed by the Unemployment Insurance Act, No 63 of 2001 (UI Act) and the Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act, No 4 of 2002 (UIC Act).
UIF gives short-term relief to workers when they become unemployed or are unable to work because of maternity, adoption leave or illness. They are calculated from the date of unemployment.Employees cannot UIF if he or she deserts his or her post, or if he or she absconds. The reason for this is because the Government wants to discourage employees from leaving their employment for the sole purpose of claiming UIF.
HOW IS UIF CALCULATED? BASIC GUIDE TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND
As of the 1st of October 2012, the maximum earnings ceiling subject to UIF payments were capped at R14 872 per month (R178,464 annually). This means that the maximum amount payable by the employee is R148.72.
The National Treasury has, in the Budget Speech, proposed a once-off relief on the UIF contributions for the 2015/16 financial year. The relief is in the form of a reduction in the remuneration threshold, against which the contributions are calculated, from R14, 872 to R1, 000 per month. The effect thereof is that employees and employers will pay only R10 in monthly UIF contributions, resulting in a collective figure of approximately R15 billion back to employees and employers.
HOW MUCH WILL BE PAID OUT IF I APPLY FOR UIF?
The calculation works as follows: If you earn R1000 per month, and a 2% contribution was made each month your monthly contribution to the fund is R20. Multiply R20 by number of months that you have worked from April 2003 until last month that you were employed and that will give you the amount that you qualify for.
Contributors who worked for at least four years qualify for 238 day’s credit. If you have been contributing for a shorter period, then you can claim 1 day for every 6 days that you worked while you were contributing to the Fund. If you take maternity leave, you can only claim up to 121 days. The Fund pays a percentage of the wage/salary that you earned while you were contributing to the fund. The highest amount that can be paid is 58% of what you earned per day.
Payment will be made within 8 weeks if all the paperwork is processed correctly and will be paid in instalments depending on the type of claim. This will continue until all your benefits are used up.
WHEN DO I QUALIFY FOR ILLNESS BENEFITS?
You can claim illness benefits if you are of for illness for a period longer than two weeks.
MY SPOUSE PASSED AWAY, CAN I CLAIM?
The wife/ husband or minor child of someone who has died can claim death benefits if the deceased contributed to the fund. Dependants must fill in the Department of Labour’s Form UF126. and hand them as well as the other required documents, at your nearest labour centre. You must apply for these benefits within six months of the death of the worker.
Bulletin Blogsby Christine Du Plessis15
HOW DO I CLAIM UIF, WHERE DO I START?
If you want to claim from the UIF you need to go to your nearest DOL office. After signing the unemployment register you will be told when you need to come back and sign the register again. You will have to return to their offices to sign every 4 weeks as an indication that you still need to claim the UIF benefits.
The UIF officer will provide you with a white card, and you must go back to the office and sign the register on the correct date. If you are ill, and cannot sign on the provided date you must provide them with a doctor's certificate.
If you don't receive your money in eight weeks, you should phone the Labour Centre and ask them to find out why there is a delay. Remember to have your name and ID number ready.
You will receive a slip every time you receive money so that you can see how much you have received and how much you can still get.
To claim unemployment benefits you need to have:
A copy of 13-digit bar-coded identity document.A copy of your last six payslips.Information supplied by your employer (UI-19).A service certificate from the employer.Proof of registration as a work seeker.A fully completed registration form.
HOW CAN THE EAST RAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ASSIST?
Although we do not offer assistance with the submission of UIF itself, we do offer sound advice on any Statutory as well as other legal deductions. We also ensure that our contracts of employment templates contain the relevant basic information required by the Labour Law and Basic Conditions of Employment Act with reference to deductions from salaries.
Bulletin Blogs by Christine Du Plessis 16
According to Gavin Keeton from Rhodes University there is one unemployed person for every two employed people in South Africa. He is of the opinion that an Economy can only grow if more people are employed or if the existing workers are more productive.
With the Metal Industry’s annual wage increase which is effective 1 July 2015, companies will feel the pinch if they don’t come up with practical solutions to stay abreast of increasing overhead costs.
MAINTAINING A PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE - SHARING IS CARING.
There are very few companies who can honestly say that they measure each employee’s productivity. Considering the amount of wastage at a cost to the company due to negligence of employees it is no wonder that when the time comes for wage negotiations there simply is nothing to negotiate due to a lack of funds.
It is understandable that any employee wants an increase which is well above the inflation rate, but have you ever asked your employees what they have done to contribute towards saving the company costs?
It is a good idea to start the process by involving your managers to get their input of how the productivity of each section should be measured as well as the time frame within which the product should be out the door.
Absenteeism is a major contributing factor to a lack of production and it has to be controlled.
PUT YOUR PAPERWORK WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS
To most managers the words “additional paperwork” is somewhat of a curse word, but what if you could monitor your output by measuring each employee’s productivity?
Considering a run of the mill engineeringcompany, productivity is mostly definedby the employees in the workshop, or theso called “scheduled workers”.Management in companies can easilyidentify those who are the “better”workers. Others are labelled as “slower”or more prone to negligence, yet duringthe end of each year the Industry MainAgreement forces employers to pay thesame bonuses!
Measuring the output of each employeeshould be done to ensure that businessowners are able to quantify eachemployee’s performance. Byimplementing a standard minimumchecklist for instance will provide youwith valuable information to ensure optimal productivity. Holding employees responsible for negligent losses should be communicated to them and employers have to ensure that employees agree in writing which amount should be deducted from their weekly wages, as well as the deduction period.
KEYS TO MAINTAINING APRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE
Bulletin Blogsby Christine Du Plessis17
Employees should be informed in writing about which documents they are required to use in their daily activities. This ensures not only that you can trace your products from start to finish, but also assists in minimising losses due to theft. Should the need arise to conduct a disciplinary hearing based on poor work performance or theft; you would be able to prove your case on a balance of probabilities.
Where you keep the above-mentioned paperwork is also very important. It should be kept in a safe place in order for you to retain copies for an extended time.
DISCIPLINE WITHOUT DISCOURAGING
Some of our new clients requests after they have signed up with us as the East Rand Chamber of Commerce that our Labour Consultant addresses the employees with reference to employment contracts or any changes that might be implemented with reference to employee relations.
This is a good idea because most people fear change and if you decide to implement a standard disciplinary code or performance measurement criteria if there weren’t any standards in place, employees automatically assume that you have now turned into a vicious dictator.
It is vital to explain to employees why you have decided to implement standards and that it will be consistently applied towards all employees. The cliché of “rules are meant to be broken” should not be part of your business operation.
Considering the rules of the Labour Laws of South Africa many Companies fail to regulate poor work performance which leads to less productivity. By having work performance meetings this can easily be managed. We at the East Rand Chamber of Commerce provide standard documentation as well as friendly assistance during the entire process of addressing productivity issues of employees.
FREE LABOUR GUIDE:RETRENCHMENTS, CCMA,ARBITRATION, STRIKES, UNIONS,DISMISSAL, AND MORE...
R4838
R6384 (12 x R532)
FNB appointed as Gauteng’s banker 32
GAUTENG PROVINCEPROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTREPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
MEDIA STATEMENTFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO ALL MEDIA HOUSES 04 August 2015
FNB appointed as Gauteng's banker
Today the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) announced First National Bank (FNB); a division of First Rand Limited,as the service provider to manage the multibillion rand centralised banking services account of the province.
“I would like to congratulate FNB on this important appointment and we look forward to working with them to ensure boththe safekeeping of the province's resources and the timeous payment of our staff and service providers,” said GautengFinance MEC, Ms Barbara Creecy.
The province's budget will increase from R95.3 billion in the 2015/16 financial year to R103 billion in 2017/18. ThereforeFNB will manage all the banking transactions of the provincial government including the payment of salaries of 200 000officials and supplier payments of more than R3-billion per month.
In addition, the company will provide corporate and commercial banking services which include, free training and development of GPG officials in all spheres of financial services as required by the province.
Speaking following the announcement in Johannesburg today, CEO FNB Public Sector Banking, Mr Danny Zandamela welcomed the news; calling the appointment a “great honour and privilege” for the bank.
“It is a humbling experience which also brings with it great expectation. It is FNB's intent and commitment to fulfil all obligations entered to successfully. We look forward to the next coming years in facilitating and enabling GautengProvincial Government to achieve its objectives. FNB would also like to thank GPG for being forward thinking bypioneering the first Open Tender process in the country,” he said.
This is the fifth time that the province went out to the market to procure a banking service. FNB currently holds theprovince's centralised banking services contract which ends in March next year.
The company was able to retain its status as the provincial banker for the next five years after achieving the highestpoints based on a scoring system of the Preferential Procurement Policy Regulations of 2011. According to this evaluationcriterion, points are allocated in terms of price, functionality, and broad-based black economic empowerment credentialsto determine the appointment of a suitably qualified service provider by government in a fair, equitable, transparent,competitive and cost-effective way.
This score and other matters were debated in the Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC), which conducted a public meetingin the presence of the bidders and interested parties in July. This BAC session recommended FNB as the preferredservice provider.
The report of the BAC and that of an independent probity team were forwarded to the Head of Department of the Gauteng Provincial Treasury (GPT) Ms Nomfundo Tshabalala, who as the Accounting Officer took the decision to appoint FNB inline with the recommendations of the BAC.
FNB appointed as Gauteng’s banker33
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History
The company Fusion Guarantees started operating in 2006. The company is registered as a Financial Credit provider and FIC Accountable institution. The entity is driven by an effective philosophy of assisting the smaller to medium contractors in the construction industry.
The company has been growing over the last couple of years and has established itself in the guarantee market as a recognised credit provider in this business sector.
Nature of Business
Fusion Guarantees has established themselves as a niche service provider for sureties and guarantees for small to medium contractors. The company shows their support continuously toward emerging and growing construction businesses and invariably becoming the preferred credit provider of credit guaranteed products and services in South Africa.
Services and product offered by Fusion Guarantees include: ·Letter of intent ·Performance Sureties ·Maintenance Guarantees ·Advance Payment Guarantees ·Bid Bonds ·Performance Demands Guarantees ·Retention GuaranteesThe company further assist contractors by providing them access to panels of authorised financial services providers to assist them in their insurance risk needs such as; ·Contractors All Risk ·Commercial insurance ·Insurance products ·Plant All Risk ·Transport covers
The company's market share percentages, which are between 5-7%, are established by the number of clientele and business duties perform during the term.
Combined Experience
Fusion Guarantees has a combined experience amongst staff and management of over 20 years in their field of expertise.
The CEO, Ilse Becker has more than 20 years' experience in the insurance industry and 12 years in the surety field.
The company focuses on service delivery that is why all their administrators and agents are trained internally.
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Why are you in business?
Fusion Guarantees believes that all people are honoured to be in the position of owning their own enterprise and that the honour they receive comes from a higher entity. The company strife's in the upliftment of personnel as well as contributing towards their clients' opportunities.
Security
Fusion Guarantee provides a secure working environment for staff and visiting customers on their premises. The premises boast with CCTV surveillance cameras and recording.
The company is highly focused on data safety as well client confidentiality. The policy is that no information is allowed to be shared outside the company. Fusion and their compliance team are in the process of implementing POPI procedures as required by the said Act.
A short term insurance is in place if an unforeseen event may happen.
Marketing
Marketing and correspondence are done via the internet through a well-designed website. Potential clients are revered to the company by existing clients due to the excellent service they provide. If the need arises that a client acquires a visit from the company's Representative's, it is done according to their schedules.
After sales Service
Fusion Guarantee has an internal service rule in place, stating that the company upholds service excellence and provides feedback to clients within 24 hours (24 hour turnaround time).The correspondence target is between 10-15 minutes.
Professionalism
The management of Fusion Guarantee is properly equipped with qualifications amongst themselves such as:
·Ilse Becker – Bcomm, Masters in Business Administration (MBA) ·Eugene Becker – BA , B.Ed, M.Ed, Masters in Business Administration (MBA)·NQF levels 8The company ensures that all agents are fully trained to fully understand and assist in their clients' needs. Agents' sign a code of conduct when a problem occur it is rectify immediately in a professional manner.
Human Resource PrioritiesWhen it is required, management follows a policy of in-house promotion. The company has a stable workforce. Due to the fact that Fusion Guarantee is not a construction site, no Health or Safety program are in place. However there are qualified First Aid Trainers on the premises as requested by the company act and HR department.
The company provides in-house training as well as external training to motivate and educate employees. Annual FICA and POPI training are done to ensure full compliance with these act.
TransparencyIn terms of regulations the Credit Regulation Act must be uphold. All legally required notices and documents are displayed within the working place and are visible to all members of staff and the public.
Company culture and styleThe company is based on Christian values and principles. The staff is not only employees but a part of a family whom some of them have been employed for more than 10 years. At Fusion Guarantees the focus is on employees. Each member is known individually and personally. The company has a very low staff turn-over and an open door policy towards employees and clients.
A long term plan as well as a 3 year strategy plan in marketing is discussed each year and afterwards employees in each division are required to attend a workshop.
Company GoalsFusion Guarantees strives to assist small companies to have the opportunity to learn and benefit from construction guarantees. The company's aim is to be deemed as honest and reliable by their clients. Their mission is to stick firmly to the guidelines outlined by the National Credit Act.
AchievementsThe company's customer default rate is as low as 0.5%. There is an application success rate of 98%, with more than 1000 satisfied customer during the last 6 years.
FlexibilityMost of the work being done by Fusion Guarantees is dependable from local government. The impact linked to politics can have a negatively influence on the company.
Computers are used on a daily basis. Should the unfortunate happen, back-ups programs and data are available to an extent but should the threat of extinction become a reality they will surely adapt.
Social issuesThe main focus is on Enterprise Development.
Tel: 011 873 7313 * Fax: 011 873 7316
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it is air, sea, rail, or road freight, our skilled teams will ensure the best, most efficient and
economic way to move your freight.
It does not matter where your cargo's destination is or where it's departing from we will
ensure that it arrives at it's destination, safe, intact and on time. Using our network of Air and
Sea freight shipping, and Overland Trucking we'll ensure that your cargo gets to where it
needs to be while providing one of the most reliable and exceptional services you've
experienced.
We ensure that our clients get the best value for money on every move. Open lines of
communication exist between ourselves and our clients with regards to all aspects of the
logistics process. We strive to reduce transit times between supplier and consignee. We
place our customer's cargo first. We are committed to first class service on an on-going and
sustainable basis.
If you need to store or hold your cargo in a safe and secure place, look no further than our
warehouse. FelTra offers personal yet professional cargo collection and delivery.
FelTra prides itself in providing its clients with personal, professional and exceptional service.
Willing to go the extra mile no matter where that mile might take us, we promise to move your
freight, Wherever. Whenever.
FelTraFreight Forwarding and Logistics
43 Director RoadSpartan Ext 21JohannesburgSouth Africa
P.O. Box 710Isando, 1600South Africa
Tel: +27 11 974 8228Fax: +27 11 974 7624
Email: [email protected]: www.feltra.co.za
AHI Nuus by Christo Owen van der Rheede 45
AHI BESIGHEIDSNETWERK MEDIAVERKLARING AHI BUSINESS NETWORK MEDIA STATEMENT
Woord van dank en waardering van uittredendeuitvoerende hoof van die AHI
Word of appreciation from outgoing chiefexecutive officer of the AHI
Tel: 011 914 2210 / 11 * Fax: 011 914 2209 / 086 653 1605
23 Haggie RoadDunswart, BoksburgGauteng
P.O. Box 6669Dunswart
1508
Email: [email protected]: www.umholi.co.za
Umholi offers a wide range of services to our customers in the Lifting and Rigging field such
as: On site inspection, Proof loading of all steel wire rope etc.
Umholi is the sole distributor of the Indian based company Usha Martin for the supply ropes
for STS and mobile harbor cranes, the mining industry and for Tirfors / Rigging.
For the Port and Crane Lifting industry Umholi manufactures customised products such as;
Spreader slinging or chain systems, Steel Wire Rope Slings, Chain Slings etc.
For the Lashing and Securing industry Umholi supplies; Shackles, Turnbuckles, Thimbles
etc.
Umholi also supplies a second-to-none Health, Safety and Environment (HSSE) policy
whereby it renders to the Ports and Lifting Industries that includes Safety Seminars,
Inspection Services etc.
All our products are supplied with a Test Certificate underwritten by HWSETA, L.T.I, L.M.E.,
L.E.E.A.S.A. and SASCO.
For the past 85 years Bibby Turboflex SA (Pty) Ltd has grown and adapted to meet the
requirements of the South African market. Formerly known as Wellman Bibby, Bibby
Transmissions UK, part of the Altra Industrial Motion Group (USA), Bibby Turboflex brings
together the expertise of market leading companies in the power transmission and motion
control industries to create an organization of formidable capability.
Altra is a leading multinational designer, producer and marketer of a wide range of mechanical
power transmission products.
Altra also provides products for use in a wide variety of high-volume manufacturing processes,
where the reliability and accuracy of our products are critical in both avoiding costly down time
and enhancing the overall efficiency of manufacturing operations.
Our products are marketed under a variety of well recognized and established brand names.
The Altra product portfolio includes electromagnetic clutches and brakes, overrunning
clutches, enclosed gear drives, open gearing, couplings, engineered bearing assemblies,
belted drives, linear actuators and other related products.
Our customers operate in a diverse group of industries, including packaging, general
industrial, material handling, oil and gas, aggregate and mining, marine, power generation,
food processing, transportation and turf and garden.
We are dedicated to finding new and better ways of handling some of the most demanding
power transmission applications. By working closely with our customers and applying the
latest technologies in design, materials and manufacturing we have accelerated the
development process of bringing new products to the marketplace.
Unit 11, Middle Park, Cnr Craig & Dormehl Roads
Anderbolt, Boksburg, P.O. Box 16524
Atlasville, 1465 South Africa
East Rand Chamber of CommerceSERVICE DELIVERY SURVEY
We�ran�a�survey�on�companies�in�the�East�Rand.�Below�are�some�of�the�results�collectedin�July�2015.
WHERE�IS�YOUR�CUSTOMER�BASE?
ARE�YOU�A�MEMBER�OF�A�CHAMBER�OF�COMMERCE?
YES33.33% NO
66.67%
LOCALNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL BOTHNATIONAL�&
INTERNATIONAL
IS�YOUR�ACCESS�OF�INFORMATION�MANUAL�REGISTERES
53% YES
IS�YOUR�OCCUPATIONAL�HEALTH�AND�SAFETY�ACT�MANUAL�ON�DISPLAY?
YES45.00%
NO55.00%
DO�YOU�HAVE�A�PORTFOLIO�ON�YOUR�COMPANY?
67%SAY�YES
INFO GRAPHIC BY:
HOW�MANY�DAYS�IS�YOUR�AVERAGE�DEBT�COLLECTION?
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
57.14%
4.76%
33.33%
30�DAYS 45�DAYS CASH
ANNUAL�TURNOVER
R1 - R5 Million
R5 - R15 Million
R15 - R35 Million
R50 - R100 Million
R500 Million or more
42.11%
10.53%
5.26%
36.84%
5.26%
40%���1�-�10
25%���11�-�25
20%���26�-�5015%���51�-�100
DOES�YOUR�COMPANYHAVE�SOCIAL�MEDIA
ACCOUNTS?
NUMBER�OF�STAFF
4.76%
MORE
YES
NO
DO�YOU�USE�THE�ARBITRATION�ORJUDICIARY�SYSTEM�FOR�DEBTORDISPUTES?
57.14%
0%
23.81%
19.05%ARBITRATION
JUDICIARYSYSTEM
BOTH
NONE
ARE�YOU�ISO�ACCREDITED?
YES14.29%NO
85.71%
IS�ANY�OF�YOUR�PRODUCTS�SABSAPPROVED?
YES
31%RATE�YOUR�SERVICE�DELIVERY�FROM
SARSMUNICIPAL�SERVICESTELKOMCELLPHONE�SERVICESESKOM
9.52%�-�VERY�GOOD4.76%�-�VERY�GOOD10.53%�-�VERY�BAD15%�-�VERY�BAD57.14%�-�VERY�BAD
ARE�YOU�SELF-SUFFICIENT�OR�DO�YOU�RELY�ON�ESKOM?
RELY�ON�ESKOM
67%BOTH
33.33%
WHAT�POSTAL�SERVICES�DO�YOU�USE
62%24%
4.76% 9%
POST�OFFICECOURIERSPICK�&�PAY OTHER
IS�THERE�ILLEGAL�DUMPING�IN�YOUR�AREA?
29%SAY�YES
71%SAY�NO
DO�YOU�HAVE�A�BBBEE�CERTIFICATE?
NO�-�14%YES�-�86%
WHAT�LEVEL�IS�YOUR�BBBEE�CERTIFICATE?
12345678NON�COMPLIANT
11.11%22.22%16.67%38.89%5.56%0.00%0.00%5.56%0.00%
DO�YOU�MAKE�USE�OF�A�BEE�CONSULTANT?
38%EXTERNAL
58%NONE
DO�YOU�HAVE�EMPLOYMENT�CONTRACTS�IN�PLACE?
81%YES
19%NO
DO�YOU�USE�A�CRM�SYSTEM?
NO
35%
65%
DO�YOU�PURCHASE�GOOGLE�ADD�WORDS?
23.81%YES
76.19%NO
WHAT�IS�YOUR�MONTHLY�HOSTING�COSTS
R200�-�R500
R500�-�R1000
MORE
25%
25%
50%
HOW�REGULARLY�DO�YOU�UPDATE�YOUR�WEBSITE?
DAILYWEEKLYMONTHLYYEARLYSELDOM
7.69%7.69%15.38%53.85%�15.38%
NEVER 0%�
YES28.57%
NO71.43%
HAVE�YOU�HEARD�OF�INBOUND�MARKETING?
IS�YOUR�WEBSITE�RESPONSIVE?
65%SAY�YES
WHAT�METHOD�OF�ADVERTISING�DO�YOU�USE?
Post
Outdoor Signs
Internet
27.78%
11.11%16.67%
88.89%
WHAT�IS�YOUR�CURRENT�MARKETING�BUDGET?
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
10.00%
20.00%
10.00%
500�-�2000 2000�-�5000 5000�-�10000 10000�-�20000 MORE
30.00%
20.00%�-�INTERNAL
6.67%�-�EXTERNAL
DO�YOU�DO�INTERNET�OR�EXTERNAL�TRAINING?
73.33%�-�BOTH
IS�THE�TRAINING�ACCREDITED�ORUNACCREDITED?
ACCREDITED85.71%
UNACCREDITED14.29%
30.00%
YES
NCR REGISTERED DEBT REHABILITATION SERVICES
UNABLE TO REPAY YOUR DEBT?
Reduce your current installmentsMake one consolidated paymentper month
Retain your assetsWe will help you enforce yourlegal rights
THE GOAL OF THE CREDITACT IS TO PROTECT
THE CUSTOMER
sms MONEYto 35521 for assistance
FOR A FREEASSESSMENT CONTACT
KEVIN RUSSELL: 082 900 4129 or MARLENE MULLER: 011 363 2956For more information go to www.livingdebtfree.co.za
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send your designs to:
R484 (excl. VAT)