Monday, 8 December 2014 21TheNewAgeNewspaper @The_New_Age +27 76 894 2847careersYou can do maths, says ‘genius’

VUSUMUZ1 SHABANGU

Edzai zvobwo describes himself as a mathematical genius who is determined to change the negative perception of mathematics on the continent. To achieve this objec-tive, the Johannesburg-based mathematician authored various books and plies his trade as a motivational speaker to inspire and encourage parents and kids alike to excel in mathematics.

The New age recently caught up with zvobwo to get the ins and out of his career.What is your job/job title?Chief geniusHow long have you been in the job?i have been a genius all my life but officially became chief genius in January this year.What does your job entail?i have fun travelling the world talking about maths and inspir-ing people to become the best they can be in life. My main message is that maths can be done by anyone and the subject is not confined to the arithmetic taught in schools but is a way of life that capacitates one to be a prolific problem solver and decision maker.When did you write your first book?i wrote The Mathematical Genius in You when i was a maths teacher at Midrand High School. it was a motivational book to help pupils succeed in maths.What motivated you to write this?i noticed serious issues that were hampering progress of pupils’

acquisition of mathematical skills, so i wrote the book to inspire my pupils and teach them how to think like mathematicians. i wanted to expose the utility value of maths in their lives and to build resilience in them that would ensure that they soar.Who is the target market for the book?i wrote it in an easy-to-read for-mat for everyone, whether math-ematically inclined or not. Parents and kids alike have been giving me positive feedback on its ease of comprehension. i hope more people get the book and can be helped to become proficient prob-lem solvers.What else have you done?i have written more books. They are GirlChild Rise Up in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), Spreading Mathe-matical Happiness and in Pursuit of Mathematical Growth.

i have criss-crossed indus-tries, that’s the beauty of being a maths genius. i have worked as a maths teacher, business ana-lyst, author, game mathematician, researcher, monitoring and evalu-ation consultant, pricing analyst, project associate and motivational speaker.What is your vision?i am on a path to positively impact africa in problem solving using mathematics as the main vehicle for socioeconomic and political issues that have long plagued our mother continent. I am a firm believer of african self-reliance in solving her own problems and being able to engage the West and

East as equal partners. For this to happen we need to strengthen our youth leadership by equipping them with tools for good prob-lem solving and decision making backed by the spirit of ubuntu.

How will you achieve this?i am knee-deep in this already as i now have a global reach through speaking at local and international conferences, social media, litera-ture, seminars and strategic part-

nerships with the governments and the corporate world. Plans are at an advanced stage to build the first MathsGenius Park which will be a one-stop shop for math-ematics packaged as a fun park,

just call it the Jurassic Park of mathematics.Why are you pursuing women empowerment in STEM?There is enough statistical evi-dence that women do not enjoy

the same opportunities as men in STEM, and if they do break into these careers their remunera-tion is on average less than that of men.

in my journey with MathsGe-nius Leadership institute we have come to the conclusion that rural african girls have the least prob-ability of success thus we feel it is a no-brainer for us to pursue women empowerment.

Women empowerment is the low-hanging fruit for socio-economic development for our continent thus we all ought to enable this movement for our universal good. Evidence has it that for every R1 given in aid to a woman, 90c is invested into the community as opposed to 65c by men. Women generally have community upliftment at heart so we need to equip them to do this efficiently through well-defined frameworks.If I wanted to be a mathemati-cian, what should be my first step?Not just passing high school maths but thoroughly appreciat-ing the beauty of maths and its underlying principles.What advice can you give to young stars?There is an acute shortage of mathematicians in africa and it is paramount that the youth take it upon themselves to take this subject by the horns and tackle it once and for all. it can be done, all you need is faith, hard work and the correct frameworks and principles.

vusumuzis@thenewage.co.za

Teacher wrote a book to inspire his pupils to think like mathematicians and know that it’s a subject that everyone can master

motivational: Edzai Zvobwo is a mathematics guru who is determined to change the negative perception of mathematics.

Healthy employees mean healthy businessesTNA REPORTER

THE 2014 healthy company index shows that healthier companies show lower absenteeism rates and more productivity levels than their unhealthier competitors.

Top honours went to Vital Health Foods, Johnson Matthey Sa, and Hatch Goba in the small, medium, and large categories at the awards, hosted by discovery Vitality recently.

The official rankings and results of the survey were revealed at the awards where companies were recognised for health promotion initiatives.

“We have moved beyond the point of defining return on invest-ment and impact on absenteeism and prioritising the health of our workforce is good for business and critical for society,” says dr Craig Nossel, head of Vitality Wellness.

“a trend that emerged is a significant shift in how employee health is viewed by companies. There is increasing focus on improving and managing health and wellbeing and how this is affecting their bottom line,” he said.

according to Nossel, this is due to the worsening gen-eral state of health around the world, in particular with chronic lifestyle diseases.

The risks of chronic life-style diseases play a signifi-cant role in employee illness and absenteeism, reduced levels of workplace morale, engagement and productiv-ity.

Research has shown that these lifestyle diseases can be mitigated through tailored interventions to promote a healthier diet, physical activity and regular health checkups.

Since people spend a great deal of their lives at work and work significantly impacts on stress and lifestyle, employ-ers have a unique opportu-nity to positively influence their employees’ ability to make healthy choices and help them to manage stress and reduce illness.

This year, discovery part-nered with the University of Cambridge and Rand Europe, who have offered a global perspective on corpo-rate wellness.

Christian van Stolk of Rand Europe said: “Suc-

cessful wellness initiatives are those that encourage a culture of health in the workplace and moti-vate individuals to take control of their own health.

“as a consequence, there is a strong business case for compa-nies to look at health and well-being more closely and invest in improving employee health.”

The index showed improve-ments in employee health. For example, a measurement of health risk-related age was 5.8 years older than the average real age in this year’s results compared to 6.4 years older in 2012.

“it indi-cates that people are more physically active, are manag-ing stress better, and smoke less,” said Van Stolk.

The

index showed that South africans suffered an 11.4% loss in working days due to suboptimal health, which equates to 25 working days per employee.

“When compared to the UK, SA employers have a 2.3% higher productivity loss rate due to employees being unhealthier and taking more sick days,” said Van Stolk.

Recommendations for a health-ier workplace include canteens that offer healthy, affordable food and drinks that are subsidised where possible, having flexible work hours to allow employees

to be active before or after work and recruiting health advocates to champion corporate wellness goals will help an organisation to lead the way when it comes to the health and wellbeing of their staff.

business@thenewage.co.za

Successful wellness initiatives are those that encourage a culture of health in the workplace and motivate individuals

wEllbEing: there is increasing focus on managing health in companies. PICTURE: SHUTTERSTOCK

Department of Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development

Call for Nominations of Members to fill Vacancies in the North West Gambling Board

The MEC of Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development, Mrs Wendy Nelson invites interested parties to submit nominations for the appointment of additional members to the Board, as required by the provisions of Section 5 of the North West Gambling Board Act, 2001 (Act No 2 of 2001) as amended. The North West Gambling Board (“the Board”) is a Schedule 3C Public Entity in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999), responsible for gambling activities in the North West Province. Three (3) vacancies exist in the Board for members to be appointed in terms of:• Section 5(1)(b) of the Act, which requires the appointment of a member who is an

Accountant or an Auditor registered in terms of the Public Accountant’s and Auditors Act, 1991 (Act No 80 of 1991)

• Section 5(1)(c) of the Act, which requires the appointment of a member who has knowledge of and experience in the field of welfare or socioeconomic development

• Section 5(1)(h), which requires the appointment of a member with proven business acumen, knowledge of the gambling industry or who is suitable for appointment as a member of the Board

The following persons are not eligible for appointment to the Board: • Public servants • Political office-bearers • Persons having direct or indirect interest in any gambling activity or any other business or enterprise that may conflict with the proper performance of his or her duties as a member of the Board.Nominations should be in writing and accompanied by • A Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the candidate • Certified copies of academic qualifications, any supporting information and contact details of at least two (2) referees • A signed letter of acceptance of the nomination from the candidate.Kindly note that all eligible nominees will be subject to vetting processes.Nominations must be sent to the Head of Department, Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development, Private Bag X15, Mmabatho 2735, or delivered by hand at the Department of Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development, Development House, cnr Provident and University Drives, Mmabatho 2735. Closing date for nominations: 16 December 2014Enquiries: Kgosietsile Sehularo, tel. (018) 387-7777 (office hours only) or e-mail: ksehularo@nwpg.gov.za

Kone Solutions K23867

Chief Financial OfficerSalary: R998 152 - R1 181 469 pa (Level 14)

(The successful candidate will be required to enter into a Permanent Employment Contract, and to complete a

Performance Agreement with the Manager of the post. The all-inclusive package consists of 70% basic salary and 30% flexible portion or 60% basic salary and 40% flexible

portion that may be structured in terms of the applicable rules)Requirements: • Postgraduate degree (or equivalent) in Financial Management • Six years’ experience at Senior Management level • Registration as a Chartered Accountant would serve as an added advantage • Knowledge of relevant legislative requirements. Skills and competencies: Given the scope of financial management in the public sector, it is recognised that the CFO must be technically trained and proficient in at least one of the following subject areas: • Strategic management • Business planning and design • Financial accounting (including principles of GAAP/GRAP) • Internal and external audit • Information systems • Communication skills (written and verbal) • Analytical skills • Attention to detail • People management • Ability to work in a highly pressurised environment.Duties: • Establish and maintain appropriate systems and policies to ensure effective and efficient management of resources • Manage financial information and respond to changing needs for financial information and advice • Provide leadership in the development and continuous evaluation of short- and long-term strategic financial objectives • Ensure that internal financial targets and budgets are fully consistent with the Secretariat’s strategic plan and relevant agreements with Government • Monitor financial risks and implement an anti-fraud and corruption strategy in collaboration with risk management • Manage Secretariat revenue and expenditure in accordance with the vote of the Department, main divisions within the vote and the PFMA • Compile budget estimates, monthly forecasts, and project planning and produce adjusted cash flow • Ensure that quarterly and annual financial statements are compiled and submitted timeously in accordance with applicable standards and legislative requirements • Develop tools and systems to provide critical financial and operational information to the Secretary of Police and make actionable recommendations on both strategy and operations • Formulate creative solutions to enhance cost effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of the services and the administration of the Secretariat • Manage activities pertaining to financial transaction processing and reporting services, supply chain services, asset management services, vote account, costing, budget management and the standardisation of processes, norms and standards • Manage the subordinates.Enquiries: Ms DP Sambo and Ms L Raseroka, tel. (012) 393-4379/1916/2500Closing date: 19 December 2014The Civilian Secretariat for Police is an equal opportunity, and gender sensitive employer and it is the intention to promote representivity in the Public Service through the filling of the post. The Secretariat for Police is committed to the achievement and maintenance of diversity and equity employment.Note: • Applications must be submitted on the prescribed application form Z.83 of the Public Service, obtainable from any Public Service Department or Department of Public Service and Administration website or Recruitment Office within the Secretariat for Police • All applications must be accompanied by a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae, certified copies of all educational qualifications and supporting documents, such as Identity Documents, driver’s licence, etc • No late applications will be accepted • Persons who retired from the Public Service by taking severance packages, early retirement or for medical reasons, as well as persons with previous convictions, are excluded • Applications must be mailed timeously to Private Bag X922, Pretoria 0001 or hand delivered at the Reception, 7th Floor, Van Erkom Arcade Building, 217 Pretorius Street, Pretoria • Faxed or e-mailed applications will not be considered • Failure to comply with this requirement will result in the candidate being disqualified • If a candidate is shortlisted, it can be expected from him/her to undergo a personal interview, and competency assessment for Senior Managers • Short-listed candidates will be subject to a security clearance • The Secretary of Police has the right not to fill the post • The post is based in Pretoria.

Human Communications 114777