Madelise Grobler: DMA winner and multi-faceted ... - Words' Worth

BENEFITS PROFILEaissue 3/2012MAGAZINE for the employees of the Altron groupMadelise Grobler: DMA winner and multi-faceted achiever

IN THIS ISSUERegulars25Editorial 1News in brief 3On a high note 5Wellness profile 27Growth & Development 283028Feature Business CSI6 2012 DMA winner4 New look annual report30 Shandukani opens its doors16 Altron Annual Awards10 Top changes at Powertech 32 ICT learners graduate28 Collaboration at Altron YPC 11 Beyond 2012 is launched 32 Bytes hockey sponsorship14Swisttech feature33Miles for SmilesPROFILE is printed on NEO STAR matt paper, supplied and partly sponsored by NOR Paper, a Bytes DocumentSolutions subsidiary. NEO STAR is a coated art and wood-free stock.

BUSINESS PROFILE1FROM OUR EDITORSAchievements aboundAs we eagerly prepare tocelebrate the official arrivalof Spring on 1 September, wethought it would be interestingto reflect briefly on someremarkable achievements byour group since the previousedition of Profile.The first is the biggestspend by Altron on a CSIproject in its history – theR28 million Shandukanimaternal and child healthcarecentre in the heart of Hillbrow.Altron, Altech and Vodacomeach contributed to the clinicwhich was officially openedby the Minister of Health,Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, at aspecial ceremony in July. Turnto pages 30-31 for coverage ofthe opening.The next milestone onour calendar was the simultaneouspublic and in-houselaunch of our Beyond 2012transformation programmeat the group’s annual awardsevent. Spearheaded by groupcorporate affairs executive,Seara Mkhabela, this gamechangingstrategic initiative isshowcased on pages 11-13 ofthis edition of Profile.The undisputed highlightof the last quarter was theAltron Awards. New groundwas broken this year whenan independent panelof adjudicators decidedunanimously to name DrMadelise Grobler of BytesPeople Solutions the firstfemale recipient of the AltronChairman’s DistinguishedMerit Award (the DMA) in the47-year history of the group.We extend our heartiestcongratulations to Madelise.Not only did she take the topGrant Rogerson and Liezl Krugerhonour but, with her team,also received the trophyfor the Most EmpoweredCompany in the Group.This is our annual awardsissue and we trust you willenjoy reading about how ourtheme, collaboration, wasplaced under the microscopeduring a successful event. Weare delighted to mention thatBytes Managed Solutions wonthe Altron Chief Executive’sAward for the best company inthe group for 2012. Our verybest wishes and most heartfeltcongratulations go to DeidreLe Hanie and her exceptionalteam for their achievement inthe face of stiff competitionfrom Altech and Powertech.Sincerely,Grant and LiezlEditorial informationProfile is co-edited by Grant Rogerson andLiezl Kruger of the Altron Group CorporateCommunications Department.The Profile editorial committee members are:Michelle Doyle – AltronRegula Niehus – PowertechMarius Venter – BytesChris Van Zyl – AltechProfile is also available on the Altron internalwebsite (Alix): www.altronprofile.comFollow us on Facebook and Twitter:http: //www.facebook.com/AltronGroup@AltrongroupDirect all queries to:Tel: 011 645-3600Email: grogerson@altron.com/lkruger@altron.comDesign and production:Words’worth (www.words-worth.co.za)On the cover Dr Madelise Grobler, 2012 DMA winner and MD of Bytes People Solutions.

2 BUSINESS PROFILENEWS IN BRIEFBytes acquires Alliance Business SolutionsStars of the showBytes Systems Integration (BytesSI) recently acquired AllianceBusiness Solutions. As a result,Bytes SI is now the partner ofchoice for Oracle end-to-endofferings and cloud‐based solutionsto customers. The companywill also become one ofthe select few Platinum partnerswithin the Oracle PartnerNetworkEcosystem in South Africathat are able to sell and deliverspecialised services across theentire Oracle “Red Stack”, securingits goal of becoming aR1 billion plus revenue business.Alliance has a staff complimentof 50 highly qualifiedbusiness and IT specialists. Ithas been a leader in the SouthAfrican ERP space for the past12 years and an Oracle PlatinumPartner for the past four years.Sealing the Bytes SI/Alliance deal are (from left) Rob Griggs, MDof Bytes SI; Peter Bensch, VP and MD of Oracle South Africa; andBrian Edy, MD of Alliance.Its extensive local client listof large corporations and itsvast experience in the ERP andPrimavera space, makes Alliancea highly complementary additionto the Bytes SI stable.According to Rob Griggs,managing director of Bytes SI,the acquisition will extend thecompany’s offering comprehensively,grow its customerbase and enable Bytes SI tobring more value to its existingcustomers.Africa Utility Week 2012 tookplace at Nasrec in Johannesburgearlier this year. More than4 900 visitors, from 53 countries,interacted with more than200 exhibiting companies andlistened to 120 speakers. ThePowertech stand, however, wasthe jewel in the AUW crown.It dominated Hall 6 and thepassage from the registrationarea to the hall. The organisersawarded Powertech the “Best inShow Award for Large Stands”.Print services perfectionPowertech Batteries makesits mark in MozambiqueThe Bytes UK team celebrates winning the inaugural CRN awardfor the Best Managed Print Services Sales Team in the UK. The BytesUK award was part of the Sales and Marketing Excellence awards.Powertech Batteries has appointedits first branded agentin Mozambique. M & D RepresentaçôesLda., founded in2009, is a Mozambican companythat sells oils and lubricants,filters, batteries and tyres. Thebusiness’ well-established localnetwork was one of the reasonswhy Powertech Batteries tookan interest. Manager DeritoCarimo’s 10 years of experiencein the batteries business and thestore’s excellent location sealedthe deal. As a Powertech Batteriesagent, M&D’s services willinclude battery charging,fitment, diagnostics and freebattery testing. The initial focuswill be on the Hi Fase brandwhich is the export brand ofchoice for many customersthroughout Africa.Powertech Batteries is currentlyactive in Zambia, Zimbabwe,Malawi, Angola, the DRCand Tanzania, and plans to addthree new markets this year.

BUSINESS PROFILE3Altech appoints new executivesRobin Marsden and RichardWingfield are the new executivesin the Altech Group. Robinholds the position of executive:corporate finance and Richardis the group’s chief informationofficer.Robin has more than 15 years’board level experience and hisprevious positions include partnerand head of M&A and CorporateFinance Advisory at Deloitte, CEOof Sage Life USA & Bermuda,CFO and chief investment officerat Sage Life, and managementconsulting partner at Deloitte.Robin reports to Peter Curle,director: corporate finance atAltech and his duties includeacquisitions, joint ventures,financing, restructurings anddisposals for the Altech Group.Richard’s 25 years ofexperience in the IT industryincludes global technologystrategies/innovations, complexsystem design through to globalsystem implementation andsupport. He joined Altech fromJP Morgan where he was a chieftechnology officer for the pastten years.Richard reports to Dr WillieOosthuysen, chief technologyofficer and chief strategic officer.at Altech. He is responsiblefor the development andimplementation of informationtechnology initiatives to optimiseand improve cost effectiveness,service quality and groupbusiness development.Richard WingfieldRobin MarsdenConlog recognises AADCelebrating the Conlog Supplier of the Year award are (from left)Sithembiso Mbhele, industrial operations VP of Schneider;André du Preez: GM supplier marketing & business developmentat AAD; Stephanie Podmore, group purchasing managerof Schneider; Riaan van Kooten, AAD branch manager; andDion Landman, Conlog’s operations director.Arrow Altech Distribution(AAD) recently received theConlog Supplier of the YearAward for the second consecutiveyear. The annualaward is presented by Conlog,the world’s leading electricitypre-payment company. Conlogoperates in more than 50countries, spanning fourcontinents and provides over70 utilities worldwide withprepaid electricity solutions.Adjudication criteria for theaward include product quality,service standards, on-timedelivery and the associatedcost savings year-on-year.FNB runs thegreenest print roomBytes Document Solutions recentlyawarded the XGS EnvironmentalAward to the FNB Print Room inJohannesburg. The competitionstarted in September 2011 withcontenders being evaluated onneatness, safety, environmentalawareness, recycling techniquesand staff enthusiasm.The FNB Print Room bestfulfilled the requirements andscooped the unique floatingtrophy made from used Xeroxprinter parts, plus a giftvoucher and a certificate ofaccomplishment.

4 BUSINESS PROFILEFinally!A report everybody can readDid you notice a change in theannual report this year? This is justa preview of exciting things to come,say Jannette Horn and MichelleDoyle, new members of the teamwho compiled the 2012 report.Over the last few years, the international focusof annual reports has changed from beingpurely statutory.Following this philosophy, Jannette Horn,group sustainability manager at Altron, headed up anextensive six-month engagement process, requesting feedbackfrom key stakeholder groups. This included workshopswith internal stakeholders such as employees and seniormanagement, and communicating with external stakeholders,such as the investor community, non-executive boardmembers, suppliers and customers. “The process helped usidentify the group’s material issues, in other words the biggestrisks and opportunities faced by Altron in the short, mediumand long-term. The entire report was based on these identifiedthemes which provided us with focus and enabled us toconvey strong messages,” says Jannette.Besides changing the format and writing style of the report,the team also wanted a fresh new look and feel. “Jannetteand I had wanted a magazine-style look for this year’s annualreport. We believed that including more pictures, diagramsand pull quotes would make it more user-friendly,” saysMichelle Doyle, group executive: corporate communications.Altron’s annual report has already caused a stir in theindustry with many calling it the new benchmark forintegrated reports. This is as a result of its good integrationand readability but also because of its extensive use of multimediaand technology. “Altron is a technology company, andwe wanted to portray this strongly in the report. We includedaspects such as YouTube links for videos, QR codes whichcan be scanned by a cellphone, Twitter and Facebook, andour very own Altron app,” says Michelle. The app, which isavailable in both Android and Apple format, will in future alsobe used for sharing other publications.Despite the glossy look and technology innovations, thisyear’s report was produced at a large discount. “Many of thesesavings are thanks to the use of our own NOR Paper,” saysthe team. “In the spirit of collaboration, we encouraged use ofinternal resources wherever possible.”From next year, Altron will no longer be required to publishits full financial statements and other statutory documents inhard copy. The team says this will give them even more scopeto use exciting tools. All we can say is “Watch this space!”To download the Altron app, go to www.altron.com and click on the link on the home page.

BUSINESS PROFILE5ON A HIGH NOTEThe time hascome to integrateour servicesand share ourintellectual powerin order to showthe market that weare a progressive,unified group.The theme for this year’s Awardsfunction was collaboration, and I wantto share a few thoughts on the subjectwith all Profile’s readers.Collaboration simply means to worktogether. Recently, however, the wordhas acquired an expanded meaningthat includes new business models,interactive communication platformsand innovative technologies that helppeople connect.One of the secrets behind successfulcollaboration is fusing different talentsand points of view. One of the world’sgreatest examples of collaboration inaction was the late Steve Jobs.Steve was a creative marketer withan eye for design. He wanted to makecomputers that everyone could haveon their desk, but equally importantlythey had to be easy to use and pleasingto look at. However, despite his vision,Steve would never have successfullybuilt Apple if it wasn’t for SteveWosniak, the other founding partner atApple who is a technical wizard.Collaborating with others by addinghis ideas to theirs became Jobs’ careermodus operandi. As a result he literallyreinvented industries: computers, movies,music, mobile phones and applications.Most major technology companieshave succeeded by partneringappropriately – it is very rare for oneperson to be a great businessman anda technology guru – and Altron is noexception. Partnerships with the likesof Xerox, NCR and Microsoft are thevery foundation that our business wasbuilt on over the course of 47 years andremain crucial to our sustainability.As valuable as external partnershipsare, one of the most powerful forms ofcollaboration is between co-workers.In large companies like ours, internalcollaboration is essential to effectivelyconverge different focus areas andto give customers a holistic solutiondelivered through a seamless serviceexperience.Collaboration is also a way for us toshare information in order to innovate.While the drivers that makecollaboration vital are technical, thesolutions are not. Collaboration is, atits root, a social activity. It is foundedon transparency, sharing and openness.As such collaboration demands a shiftin our organisational culture – a new,exciting challenge for us all, but one thatI believe will have extraordinary benefits.Robert VenterChief Executive

6 BENEFITS PEOPLE PROFILE

BENEFITS PEOPLE PROFILE 7A woman who heads up a training companysounds like pretty standard fare. Except thatneither Madelise Grobler nor Bytes PeopleSolutions conform to stereotypes.

8BENEFITS PEOPLE PROFILEon just before I was called to the stage.It came as a great surprise – afterwards Iapologised to my team for not thankingthem in my unprepared speech!”With 150 employees, Bytes PeopleSolutions is one of the smallestcompanies in the Bytes stable. Scoopingtwo of the biggest Altron-wide awardswas therefore no mean feat. Butcompeting against others is not what getsMadelise out of bed every morning. “Iam highly competitive,” she says. “Butfirst and foremost against myself. Whichis why I run.” At least five days a weekher day starts with a run, long beforemost of us are even awake. “I have beenrunning since school and it’s a lifestylefor me. I do sometimes question myown sanity when I try to run a race on aSaturday after a brutal week at the office,but I also know that running balancesme. If you want to be good at your job,you have to do something else as well –running is that something for me.”In the run-up to the 2012 AltronAwards, Madelise hoped for BytesPeople Solutions to be namedthe most empowered company inthe group. With that in the bag, shecelebrated with a glass of wine overlunch with her team, not quite realisingthat courtesy of her Bytes CEO’s Awardshe was in the running for the Altronchairman’s Distinguished Merit Award(DMA). “Fortunately I had put my jacketBuilding a businessMental strength and a quick and restlessmind are the cornerstones on whichMadelise has built her career.She grew up on a farm nearThabazimbi in the Limpopo Province,where her parents still stay. After schoolshe completed two degrees at theUniversity of Pretoria (UP). “My fatherwanted me to do computer science, butI wasn’t sure that I would pass.” Insteadof dropping B Com Informatics, sheadded B Com Accounting.With a Master’s degree in informaticsagainst her wall she started lecturing atUP. Then, one day, a burst of frustrationprompted her to investigate PhDscholarship opportunities abroad. Sheapplied for three and was accepted,initially at the University of Limburg inMaastricht and then also spent time atthe University of Delft in the Netherlandson a scholarship from the NetherlandsSouth Africa Institute. “Two weeks

BENEFITS PEOPLE PROFILE 9after I arrived in Delft, Chris Hani wasmurdered. Those were tumultuoustimes, but I was amazed at Europeans’perceptions. People struggled with thefact that I had left my husband at homeand that I was from Africa but not ablack African!”Back in South Africa Madelisedecided that seven years of lecturinghad been enough. For the sake of herprofessional development she had tomove on. “University had becometoo slow for me. They do fantasticdevelopment work, but then it cantake years to deliver. Here at PeopleSolutions, if I think of something today,I can deliver it on Monday – it makesme happy and keeps me busy.”EUC (end-user computing) Academywas the business Madelise founded in1996. Three years later it was acquiredby CS Holdings. Bytes acquiredthe latter in 2004 and Bytes PeopleSolutions was born.More than trainingMadelise is adamant that Bytes PeopleSolutions is not a training company.“Sure, if you want me to presentan Excel course I will, but that isnot how and where we add value.”The way in which Bytes PeopleSolutions distinguishes itself from thecompetition, is territory Madelise hadstarted to chart in the EUC Academydays. “I built the business by going inat the top and either understanding aclient’s business strategy or helpingthem to develop it. The next step is toalign the people strategy to the businessstrategy. Then we look at the profile ofpeople needed in the business and therequired competencies. Only then dowe assess the incumbent against theprofile. For this reason, our training anddevelopment is an outcome, not an endin itself. Price-wise we cannot competewith someone who presents MS Wordcourses as an individual. Likewise, theycannot compete with us when it comesto delivering value.”Madelise’s technical background andbusiness analysis skills enabled her toposition Bytes People Solutions first andforemost as an advisor to its customers.Her point of departure is to build arelationship of trust. “Once you havedone that, customers come back to buyand then we can charge the premium ourservices are worth.” The success of thisapproach is attested to by the fact thatBytes People Solutions mostly do repeatbusiness and word of mouth referrals.A glance behind the scenesAsked about her managementphilosophy, Madelise says she believesin long-term relationships and likesto create a culture where people canflourish. “Most of my core team hasbeen with me for at least a decade. Oneor two of them worked with me at theuniversity, so we’ve been together formore than 20 years.”Madelise has a hand in every newappointment at People Solutions. Once acandidate has been for a final interview,she spends a few minutes with theperson before the final decision is made.“I have a good feel for people, andwhen I bring people in I want to makethem successful – provided they arehere for the right reasons.”Madelise enjoys analysis and creatingthe big picture. Detail is not for her. “Ican do the meticulous implementationif I have to, but I get bored. That is whyI am so dependent on my team – wemake each other strong.”The MD of Bytes People Solutionsbelieves women can have it all – butit takes planning and a supportiveenvironment. In her life, her architecthusband and two daughters, aged sevenand 14, are her anchors. Along with herhousekeeper Mart who has been withthe family for 18 years: “I told you I’m along relationship type of person!”“I always tell mypeople: if you arenot happy here,you come to meand I’ll find youa job – life istoo short to dosomething youdon’t love.”

10BUSINESS PROFILENew top team for PowertechPowertech’s recentlyappointed chiefexecutive officer andchief operating officerare no strangers tothe company, but theycertainly have theirwork cut out for themin their new roles.Neil KaytonLeon ViljoenBernard leadsTransformersBernard Meyer has beenappointed as CEO ofPowertech Transformers.Following a 20-year careerwith Eskom Distribution,Bernard joined Powertechin 2007 as engineeringmanager. He was promotedto chief operating officerfor Powertech Transformers’Power Division in 2009.When Norbert Claussenannounced his resignationfrom Powertech,the group took the opportunityto reorganise its managementstructure by introducing the positionof chief operating officer (COO). Itwas also decided to appoint Norbert’ssuccessor from within, rather thanmaking an external appointment.The new CEO, Neil Kayton, has beenPowertech’s chief financial officer sincehe joined the company in 2004. Hestarted his career with accounting firmErnst & Young where he completedhis articles, before being employed asfinancial manager at Universal RecyclingCompany – a member of the CapeGate group of companies. Prior tojoining Powertech, Neil was the financialdirector at international pharmaceuticalscompany, AstraZeneca.Leon Viljoen vacated the CEO seatat Powertech Transformers to take uphis new position as Powertech COO.Leon is an electrical and electronicengineer by training and has been withPowertech for twelve years in variousmanagement capacities.Commenting on the new appointments,Robert Venter, Altron’s CE, saidthat the Altron board believed thatNeil and Leon had excellent attributesand that they would complement eachother in leading the Powertech group.“They have both been with the groupfor some time and understand the intricaciesof the power electronics sector.We look forward to seeing them takethe group to new heights.”The next edition of Profile will featurean in-depth interview with Neil abouthis vision for Powertech.“They both understand the intricaciesof the power electronics sector”.Robert Venter, CE Altron

BUSINESS PROFILE 11What does the ideal Altron environment of sharing and learning for all employeeslook like? We no longer answer this question in terms of demographics only,says Seara Mkhabela, group executive: corporate affairs. A place where thebest skills, talent and, above all, attitude are nurtured, irrespective of gender orrace, is where we are headed Beyond 2012.Beyond 2012 branding at the Altron Awards where theprogramme was officially launched.

12BUSINESS PROFILEWe seek to create a welcoming andempowering home for talented,experienced high performers of any race,gender or age. All people who meet thisdescription should be enthusiastic abouttheir career prospects at Altron – theirknowledge, skills, talent and experienceare essential for our success.Seara Mkhabela, group executive: corporate affairs, launchesthe Beyond 2012 programme at the Altron Annual Awards.This year’s Altron AnnualAwards witnessed the launchof the group’s people strategy.With the title Beyond 2012– Driving the next wave of transformation,the document describes theorganisation’s vision for empoweringand developing its people.The marked departure from demographicallydetermined targets is not accidental.“Having met the dti scorecardgoals, we can now move into an excitingnew era that goes beyond compliance.”Unpacking the new strategy is SearaMkhabela, group executive: corporateaffairs, and the driving force behindAltron’s transformation programmesince 2010.“The new strategy asks us to shiftour understanding of terms such as‘transformation’ and ‘diversity’. A workforcecomprising specific percentages ofpeople from different races, age groupsand genders does not necessarily guaranteea transformed company.”True transformation, says Seara, goesto the very heart of an organisation’sculture. It is evident in the respect thatcharacterises every interaction betweenpeople, be they colleagues, suppliers orcustomers. “This form of respect growsfrom an understanding of the uniquevalue that other people bring to the table,and exists in an environment whereno form of prejudice is tolerated.”Employees for a new eraThis then is the reason why Beyond2012 is more about what is on people’sinsides than on their outsides. Searaconfirms: “Our new transformationstrategy seeks to create a place wherethe value of all people will be recognised,based on the quality of work theydeliver and their willingness to embracethe Altron values.” However, if theycannot deliver due to a lack of empowermentand development, we cannottalk of a transformed company.The Human Capital Council hasset itself the task of developing cleartargets for attracting the best talentfrom all demographics, retaining themand growing them for our future leadership.The targets shall address recruitment,retention, reward and recognition,succession planning, development ofa leadership pipeline, performancemanagement, human capital systemsand support.Seara concludes on a confident note:“The first phase of our transformationjourney has proven our ability toachieve the economic empowermentof black people through ownership ofshares in the Altron companies, supportof businesses, creation of small enterprisesand social economic support.However, workplace diversity has onlybeen successful at lower levels due tointernal and external challenges. Basedon these experiences, we know the keydrivers of success in the transformationarena and will apply them during thisnext phase.”

BUSINESS PROFILE 13The Altron Transformation Committee members are (from left) Joe Makhafola, Seara Mkhabela, RhonaWolmarans, Adam Rabie, Ian Millar, Skip Franzsen, Vinesh Reddy, Michelle Doyle and Douglas Ramaphosa.If Altron is serious about transformation, we have to empower and developour employees for a levelled playing field. We have to ask ourselvesdifficult questions about the profile of an Altron employee matched againstthe new customer portrait. We can only have a diverse leadership pipelineif we empower our junior managers so that each one of them, irrespectiveof their advantaged or disadvantaged backgrounds, can raise their handswhen opportunities arise in senior and top management.

14COMPANY PROFILEThe app is their oysterThe blue-sky thinkers who gave the world one of the firstSouth African-developed instant messaging systems, are stillthe backbone of Altech Swisttech. And they continue to pushthe boundaries.In 1997, a small software developmentcompany opened its doors in Stellenboschin the Western Cape. CalledSwist Group Technologies it initiallyprovided infrastructure services to the mobiletelecommunications industry. In 2000,the company’s research and developmentdivision developed a massive multiplayermobile game named Alaya. The game wasSMS based and way ahead of its time dueto the high cost of text messaging at thetime. Three years later, the game was reassessedand turned into an instant messaging(IM) system – today the largest socialnetwork in Africa.In 2006, the owners decided to split thebusiness in the interest of customer focus.The IM system was aimed at consumerswhile Swisttech’s core business wascorporates. The IM system has since beensold to deep-pocket investors such asNaspers and subsequently the World ofAvatar.Swisttech, under the leadership ofYanesh Ramiah, carved a niche for itselfin the software development market. Thiswas done so successfully that the AltechGroup acquired Swisttech in 2011.The company remains largely basedin Stellenbosch, but Pieter Reinhardt,business development manager, recentlyrelocated to Johannesburg to build theAltech Swisttech brand and market in thenorth.What we do best“R&D is still our strong suit,” saysYanesh. “We don’t limit our innovatorsbut encourage them to open their minds.As long as an idea makes business senseand is above board, we will look at it.”Yanesh allows her staff to explore, withinthe broad boundaries of job descriptionsand performance specifications. “We letpeople branch out and move around inthe company because we believe in exposureand career choices.”Swisttech’s team of 44 employees is aunique blend of youthful innovation andconventional values. Yanesh describesthe team as propeller-heads who arefairly conservative and loyal to the company,yet they are good at making quickdecisions and coming up with some ofthe brightest concepts in the industry.One such concept is revolutionisingthe mobile application space. Yaneshsays it all came about at the beginningof 2011. “We were creating a clientproposal when we realised we can offerthe market a unique mobile applicationdevelopment platform. Our architectureallows clients to build a generic code andthen customise it for all other mobileoperating systems and devices. It is muchsimpler than other developments andreduces total cost of ownership significantly.”The beauty of CrossCurve, as the architectureis called, is that it caters for allgenerations of mobile devices, from theolder feature phones to the latest tabletsand smartphones. One of its unique featuresis when the user clicks on the URLto download the app, it automaticallydetects the device and directs the user tothe applicable app store.The CrossCurve architecture hassprouted a number of value-add services:l CrossCurve Notify is a push notificationservice that allows a company tosend messages to its consumers andthey can respond. It is similar to ordinarytext messaging, but at a muchlower cost.l CrossCurve Spatial is a geolocationservice. A company can pinpoint“Swisttech has much to offer our sister companies. Conversely,partnering with the likes of Altech Eyenza is an excellentshowcase for our capabilities.”

where a device is and send the consumerinformation relevant to theirlocation at that moment.l CrossCurve Social integrates withinstant messaging platforms and socialmedia. It allows companies to createan instant messaging platform for aselect group of people.l CrossCurve Volt deals with security,allowing users to download anti-spam,anti-virus and anti-malware softwareonto their mobile devices, and to storeand retrieve the data on their mobiledevices in the cloud.l CrossCurve Wallet integrates withAltech’s Eyenza platform to performmobile payments via the eWallet.This is an example of collaborationwithin the group instead of reinventingsolutions.Yanesh is excited about the collaborationopportunities within the Altrongroup. ”We have much to offer our sistercompanies. Conversely, partnering withthe likes of Altech Eyenza is an excellentenhancement to the capabilities ofCrossCurve.”In addition to mobile applications, theAltech Swisttech portfolio consists of twoother lines of business. The first is role aspreferred local professional services partnerfor Ab Initio, an American productthat enables users to store and retrievelarge volumes of data quickly. SouthAfrican clients include Vodacom, Absa,Telkom and Nedbank. Altech Swisttechprovides development, support and professionalservices to some of these localclients.The third leg of the Altech Swisttechbusiness is Microsoft front-end development,which involves bespoke developmentacross a variety of databases.In addition, Altech Swisttech providesaround-the-clock support for applicationsdeveloped by Altech Swisttech and othervendors.COMPANY PROFILE 15

16Collaboration is Altron’s group-wide theme for2012. It is collaboration between our businessesthat will allow us to use, benefit and prosperfrom the opportunities in our markets.Collaboration was also the theme when, on18 July 2012, we celebrated the achievementsthroughout the group that are laying thefoundation for an even more successful future.

17Towards transformationThe three Altron Transformation Awards were adjudicated by an independent panelconsisting of Polo Radebe, a pioneer of drafting the B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice,Lerato Ratsoma, MD of South Africa’s first BEE rating agency, and Sanjay Bhikha,director of one of the oldest empowerment companies in the country.The Altron Group company thatshowed the most improvementin its transformation programmeNominees:l Altech UECl The Powertech Battery GroupWinner:The Powertech Battery Group won this award for improving itsBEE rating from a level six to a level three, mostly on preferentialprocurement and enterprise development. The Battery Group assistedno fewer than seven different micro-enterprises both financially andthrough management support, largely through the efforts of PeterHodgkinson, the group procurement manager. This was the secondconsecutive year that Powertech Battery Group won the award.Winner:Bytes People Solutions has increased its scores on all the elements of theBEE scorecard. In addition, transformation has become an integral partof the DNA of the company largely motivated by Madelise who attracts,develops and retains people from diverse backgrounds. The company isa true ambassador of Altron’s transformation programme, creating anexciting and productive working experience for everyone in its employ.[Visual]IMG_0228.jpg[Visual]IMG_0226.jpgBytes People Solutions MD, Dr Madelise Grobler and Altech MultimediaCEO Peter Balchin, receive their awards from Altron group executive forcorporate affairs, Seara Mkhabela.Best talent managementand leadership developmentinitiative for transformationin the Altron Group.Powertech Batteries CEO, Glenn Geldenhuis (second from left), and EdMahobe, Powertech Batteries HR executive, receive the award fromAltron group executive for corporate affairs, Seara Mkhabela, andAltron CE, Robbie Venter.Most empowered companyin the Altron GroupNominees:l Altech Swisttechl Battery Technologiesl Bytes People SolutionsNominees:l The Aberdare Cables Ecole Projectl The Altech UEC Human Resources Strategyl Bytes People Solutions Harrismith and Pretoria Learnership ProgrammeWinner:The Altech UEC Human Resources Strategy, which has enabled AltechUEC to increase its scores on employment equity, skills development andmanagement control. The adjudicators have all praised Altech UEC forits outstanding human resources recruitment and skills developmentstrategy, which is brilliantly tied into its overall business strategy.

18On the shoulders of giantsThe individuals who contended the Chairman’s Distinguished Merit Award (DMA),and the companies that were in the race for the best in the group, are the inspiringleaders on whose shoulders the successful Altron group is built.The Bytes Managed Solutions team celebrates their award.Altron Chief Executive’s Award for ExcellenceWinners: Bytes Managed SolutionsBytes Managed Solutions has enjoyed two outstanding years of growththat have resulted in it achieving R1 billion of revenue and R100 millionof operating profit in the last financial year.Operating in a fiercely competitive market they have managedto achieve nearly 20% revenue growth in the last year, while closelycontrolling costs and achieving one of the lowest SAG ratios in thewhole Altron Group.This resulted in a 30% uplift in operating profit on top of thesignificant increase achieved last year and a three-fold increase in profitover the last two years.Securing the 5-year, R800-million order for an ATM refresh at Absa lastyear was a particular success and has positioned the company to sustain itssuperior returns.Other nominees:l Willard Batteriesl Altech Netstar

19Chairman’s Distinguished Merit AwardDr Madelise Grobler, founder and managing director of Bytes PeopleSolutions, is this year’s winner of the DMA. Under her passionate andhands-on direction, BPS has become a leader in its field in South Africa’seducation industry, providing outstanding service to many of thecountry’s blue chip companies.Turn to pages 6-9 to read more about this remarkable woman.The other contenders for the DMA were:l Peter Riley and Craig Clark of Powertech Switchgear, joint winnersof the Powertech CEO’s Award.l Harry Louw, MD of Altech Netstar, and winner of the Altech CEO’sAward.l Jannette Horn, Altron group sustainability manager, and winnerof the AMS Executive Award.Dr Venter presents Madelise Grobler with the DMA certificate, golddiamond pin and her air tickets to Europe.Altron Management Services (AMS) Executive AwardJannette Horn successfully established a much-needed sustainabilityfunction at Altron. Collaborating closely with the Altron CorporateCommunications team, she has rolled out programmes such as GreenOffice Week, Earth Hour and numerous environmental workshops.She has made a valuable contribution to the group’s new lookannual report, Altron’s water submission and JSE SRI Index submissionprogrammes, and was instrumental in launching the group’s firstsustainability manual – also a first in the industry.Other nominees:l Dingy Makwelo, head waiter and ambassador extraordinairefor the Parktown corporate officel Chris Potgieter, group legal managerl Parvesh Chetty, group internal auditorl Earl James, group internal auditorAltron CFO, Alex Smith, presents the AMSExecutive Award to Jannette Horn.

20Our eye on the environmentAltron group company secretary, Andrew Johnston, presented the certificates andtrophies for the Environmental Awards. Introduced three years ago, awareness ofand interest in this category have grown exponentially, as reflected in the numberof entries received this year.The Group Company that hasAchieved Environmental ExcellenceNominees:l Bytes Document Solutions for its Go Green Awareness Campaign.l Powertech Aberdare Cables for improving energy efficiency in itsproduction processes.l Altech UEC for its comprehensive waste management and recyclingprogramme.l Powertech IST Otokon for the development of products that helpclients to monitor their energy consumption.Winner:Altech UEC’s environmental journey started more than four yearsago, resulting in various green initiatives being implemented in themanufacturing of their products as well as the day-to-day running of thebusiness.This journey has led to major costs savings, new revenue streams,community upliftment programmes, improved awareness and reducedenvironmental impacts.The group’s comprehensive waste management strategy is particularlysuccessful. This has not only made Altech UEC a more profitable andenvironmentally friendly place to work in, but also addresses the everincreasing needs of their clients and major customers.Individual environmental passionand initiativeThis award, that recognises an individual’s initiative and personalinvolvement to improve the environmental awareness in his or hercompany or group, made its debut this year.Nominees:l Marina Schuster of Powertech for the introduction of the Pula watersavingdevicel Lynette Calitz of Altech Swisttech for the introduction ofenvironmental best practices and initiatives within the companyl Ralph Govender of Altech Netstar for his efforts to improve hiscompany’s environmental awarenessWinner:Marina Schuster of Powertech is the dedicated and passionate personbehind the introduction of the Pula water-saving device into her group.After hearing about the Pula, Marina used her own time and resourcesto acquire 500 devices, and package and distribute them to the variousPowertech operations. She even went as far as installing the devices andtraining staff at Powertech head office, Aberdare and IST on how to usethem. Thanks to Marina’s efforts, hundreds of Pulas are saving thousandsof litres of water throughout the Powertech group.[Visual]IMG_0232.jpg[Visual]IMG_0234.jpgCEO Peter Balchin receives his company’s award fromAltron group company secretary, Andrew Johnston.Altron group company secretary, Andrew Johnston,congratulates Marina Schuster.

21Powertech Group awardsThe first official duty of newly appointed CEO of Powertech,Neil Kayton, was to honour the group’s top performers.Best Company in Powertech[Visual]IMG_0295.jpgNominees:l Powertech Transformersl Willard Batteriesl Powertech ISTWinner: Willard BatteriesAlthough the company’s revenue dropped by 15%, Willard increasedits operating income by 3%. At the same time, Willard improved itsoperating margin by 21% and, during the period under review, cash inhand grew from R19 million to an impressive R140 million.[Visual]IMG_0293.jpgStrike MD, James Calmeyer, with Neil Kayton.Powertech CEO’s AwardNominees:l Colin Wong of Powertech Asial James Calmeyer of Strike Technologiesl Peter Riley and Craig Clark of Powertech SwitchgearPowertech Batteries CEO, Glenn Geldenhuis,with the Best Company trophy.Most Improved Companyin PowertechNominees:l Strike Technologiesl Tridonicl Powertech TransformersWinners: Peter Riley and Craig ClarkThe path to success for Powertech Switchgear started in 2008 when PeterRiley identified potential manufacturers in China and set up contacts.The chosen partner was Dong Yuan. Peter was joined by Craig Clark asgeneral manager in 2010. Powertech Switchgear officially launched in2010, and has showed amazing growth in sales in a highly competitivemarket.To start a business from scratch and make it highly profitable in justthree years is a feat deserving of the highest recognition.[Visual]IMG_0299Winner: Strike TechnologiesAlthough revenue growth of 8% was achieved by Strike, its operatingincome grew by a staggering 164% from R4 million to R10 million –resulting in a headline earnings growth of 173%. Return on operatingassets, in turn, improved by 106% from 19% to 38%.Craig Clark, Neil Kayton and Peter Riley celebrate the Powertech CEO’s Award.

22Bytes Group AwardsWomen set the tone at the Bytes Awards when women-ledcompanies took home two of the three top awards.Best Company in Bytes[Visual]IMG_0348.jpgNominees:l Bytes Systems Integrationl Bytes Managed Solutionsl Bytes Healthcare SolutionsWinner: Bytes Managed SolutionsBytes Managed Solutions produced operating profit in excess of R100million to become the newest member of the Bytes Billion Rand RevenueClub.Apart from receiving an Award of Distinction from NCR Corporation forexcellence, the company secured a 5-year, R800-million ATM order fromAbsa and successfully rolled out a vast country-wide technology refreshprogramme for Pick n Pay.[Visual]IMG_0346.jpgAndrew Holden receives the Most Improved CompanyAward from Rob Abraham.Bytes CEO’s AwardNominees:l Darren Spence of Bytes Document Solutions UKl Tim Runnalls of Bytes Corporate Officel Dr Madelise Grobler of Bytes People SolutionsRob Abraham congratulates Deidre Le Hanie on winningthe Best Company in Bytes Award.Most Improved CompanyNominees:l Bytes Document Solutions UKl Bytes People Solutionsl Bytes ConnectWinner: Dr Madelise GroblerMadelise is the founder and managing director of Bytes People Solutions.Under her passionate and hands-on direction, BPS has become a leaderin its field in South Africa’s education industry, providing outstandingservice to many of the country’s blue chip companies.During the past year alone, BPS has trained over 1 500 peopleenhancing their skills and capability; created a cloud-based, onlinelearning portal enabling staff to educate and train themselves, supportedthe government’s leadership initiative by training 3 500 disadvantagedand unemployed young South Africans, and received numerous awardsfrom international corporations.[Visual]IMG_0351.jpgWinner: Bytes ConnectHaving faced the challenges of amalgamating three different culturesand sets of disciplines, Bytes Connect has emerged as a focused and fullyrationalised business unit. The company is now a cornerstone of the BytesGroup, having increased its operating profit by 43%, improved its BEErating and secured a number of very lucrative contracts going forward.Rob Abraham presents Madelise Grobler with her CEO’s Award.

23Altech Group awardsAltech Netstar was the Altech Group’s star performer, wining two out of three awards.Best Company in AltechNominees:l Arrow Altech Distributionl Altech Card Solutionsl Altech Netstarl Altech UECWinner: Altech NetstarAltech Netstar is the largest contributor to the Altech results and hasproudly been so for the past two years. Its compounded annual growthrates for the past 10 years have been exemplary with operating incomegrowth of 27% and profit before tax growth of 26%. The companycontinues to be a world leader in all areas of its activities, has a levelthree BBEE rating and has expanded into 15 countries throughoutAfrica and Malaysia.Altech CEO’s AwardNominees:l Harry Louw, the managing director of Altech Netstarl Boyd Chislett, the managing director of Altech Autopage Cellularl Russell Futter, the country manager for Altech UEC in AustraliaWinner: Harry LouwSince his appointment as MD of Altech Netstar in 2009, Harry hasrecorded many remarkable achievements. Under his leadershipHarry Louw, MD of Altech Netstar, received both the Best Company andCEO’s Awards from Craig Venter.the company has achieved solid financial growth and received theTechnology Top 100 Minister’s Award for Excellence in the managementof systems. Harry commands the highest respect from his customers andpeers and from the management at Altech Netstar and the Altech andAltron groups.Most Improved Company in AltechNominees:l Altech UECl Altech Card Solutionsl Arrow Altech DistributionCraig Venter presents Peter Balchin with Altech UEC’s MostImproved Company Award.Winner: Altech UECAfter two years of negative profit before tax, Altech UEC has delivereda profit before tax of R39 million. The company opened a world-classfacility at its KwaZulu-Natal factory, launched the Altech MultimediaTechnology Centre for Learning in KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal.

24Many talentscollaborated on theday to deliver anothermemorable AltronAnnual Awards event.Vocalist Nianell (left) and the Romanzquartet (above) delighted the audience.Comedienne and actress Krijay Govenderboth directed the programme and keptthe audience entertained with her wit.The Electronic Pops Orchestra formed the backboneof the afternoon’s entertainment to celebrate Altron’s47th anniversary.

25Vocalist Tracy-Lee Oliveris one of South Africa’smost sought-after liveperformers.The guest speaker at the Altron Awards was adventurer DavidGrier, who interrupted his epic run through the United Kingdom toattend the event. David’s talk centered on lessons from his journeys,ranging from running the length of the Great Wall of China to morethan 3 300km around the coast of South Africa and a run throughMadagascar – all in aid of the Smile Foundation (see page 33).The entire cast was on stage for the finale and sang Proud.The Soweto Gospel Choir was afeast for the eyes and the ears.Lindiwe Bungane is a budding vocalist who has alreadywon a Naledi Theatre Award. Altron has long supported thearts and especially young artists in South Africa.

26The Powertech guests included Andrew Matseke, BruceNicholson, Nomakha Nsibande and Silas Moloko.Yanesh Ramiah, Pieter Reinhardt, Johan van der Westhuizen,Dr Willie Oosthuysen, Richard Wingfield and Craig Venter.The Altech Netstar team was eye-catching in their orange ties:(from left) Derick Deyzel, Shaun Brashaw, Guy Addison, JenitaSuknunun, Wynand Schultz, Harry Louw, Lee McFadyen, DavidShipton and Charles Morgan.The registration process was managed by (from left) TebohoMankga, Altron; Ethy Kieser, Altech Netstar; Myra Abreu, Altron;Wilma van der Merwe, Altron; Andrea Riem, Altech Autopage;Anne van Zyl, Altron; René Abrahams, Powertech; and TanyaGruhn, Strike Technologies.Johan Klein, Ramani Naidoo and Tony Dixonenjoy a cup of tea.The Altron chairman, Dr Venter, with his wifePenny and Seara Mkhabela.

WELLNESS PROFILE 27Rise, sweatand shine, babyDid someone say beach?! If your first response is to book a fast flightto Siberia where you can happily hide the sins of winter under layers ofclothing, then we challenge you to try first-mover status on for size.Statistically, people whoexercise in the morningare more likely to stickwith their routine. Morningexercisers also burn more kilojoules,eat less junk, and feel more energisedthroughout the day. Here’s how to getstarted and keep going.1. Move up your bedtimeNumerous studies have linked a lack ofsleep to weight gain, increased diabetesrisk, low energy and fatigue. Trying towake up early if you aren’t fully restedis even more difficult. Your strategy:Decide at what time you need to wakeup to make your workout happen, andthen calculate your new ideal bedtime.You don’t have to change your habitat once. Start going to bed 15 minutesearlier each night until you reach yourideal bedtime. In the meantime, startwith a shorter, targeted workout in themorning.2. Determine your strategyfor successThe prospect of dragging yourself,work clothes, shoes, hair dryer andmakeup bag all the way to the gymat 06:00 might convince you to ratherstay in bed. Isn’t there somethingeasier you could do instead? A greatworkout DVD, or a walk or jog aroundthe neighbourhood are all options toconsider.3. Plan to failBeing prepared to fail is the bestplanning you can do. Create morethan one alternative so that whenyour workout partner cancels or thatthunderstorm hits, you won’t have tomiss your excercise session.4. Psych (or bribe) yourself upEven if you have had eight hours ofsleep, it can still be a struggle to getup before the sun does. That’s why wehighly recommend bribery. If you loveto start your day with a coffee, make adeal with yourself that you’ll only beallowed to stop on your way to work ifyou fit in your workout first.5. Move to a motivating mixNever underestimate the power of greatmusic to inspire you to get moving.Create a playlist of your favouritetracks – the ones that really get yourheart racing – and hit the play buttonas soon as you get up. Keep addingsongs to your mix and change it oftenso it always sounds fresh and inspiring.6. Share on social mediaGetting feedback and support fromyour social network can help you stayon track towards reaching your fitnessgoals. Post your workout plans thenight before, for example: “Trying out anew kickboxing class in the morning!”You might be more motivated to get outof bed after announcing your intentionon your Twitter feed.7. Preparation is the secretZap morning workout excuses bymaking your pre and post-workoutroutine as simple as possible. Put yourworkout gear right next to your bedso you don’t have to fumble aroundfor your shoes and socks. Also keepit simple afterwards. For example, trydry shampoo or a polished ponytailin cold weather.Information courtesy of Shape magazine

28GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT PROFILEConnecting people tofacilitate collaborationA silo mentality is one of the biggest destroyers of corporate value.Altron’s young leaders have decided to play a different game.The Altron YPC aims to:Identify, promote and protect the future leaders of AltronBe a platform for leadership development and personalgrowth opportunitiesFacilitate a leadership development strategywith measurable ROIWorking together is not anew concept, but the AltronYoung Presidents Club(YPC) is making collaborationits own, says Altron YPC exco member,Arno Geldenhuys. “Our goal is to helpbuild a unified Altron group through theinteraction and input of talented youngleaders from across the group.”The curse of silosTurf battles happen everywhere – inhospitals, government departments,

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT PROFILE 29None of us are as smart as all of usJapanese proverbassociations, schools and private industry.Silos can be created around an individual,a group, a division, a function, oreven a product line. Wherever it’s found,silo mentality becomes synonymous withpower struggles, lack of cooperation andloss of productivity. And always, the clientis the ultimate loser.Silos cause teams to disintegrate intoa collection of isolated camps, with littleincentive to collaborate, share informationor join forces to pursue criticaloutcomes. Local leaders focus on servingtheir individual agendas - often at theexpense of the goals of the greater group.The resulting internal battles over authority,finances and resources destroyproductivity, and jeopardise the achievementof corporate objectives. Talented(and frustrated) employees walk out thedoor – or worse yet, stay and simplystop caring.Not on our watchArno says the Altron YPC membersasked themselves how they couldcontribute to tear down silos, reduceconflicts, promote innovation andincrease collaboration. “We realised thatthe Club gives us a unique opportunityto make a difference. Through the AltronYPC we can connect the businesses werepresent and use our young leadersto change our group culture to one ofcollaboration. At the Altron YPC weconnect people to facilitate collaboration.When these talented young leaders cometogether they bring different perspectivesand expertise from their differentbackgrounds and industries. The AltronYPC provides these bright minds with aplatform to network and learn.”Why collaborateThe benefits of collaboration are numerous.It accelerates the rate of innovationin organisations, leads to higherproductivity and better use of resources,and it leads to employees who are moreengaged and effective.Collaboration seldom requiresinventions. It is often just a matterof combining and recombiningcapabilities across disciplines,organisations and sectors. Innovationis triggered when the “right” peoplemeet at the right time and discover thateach has information needed by theother. A crosspollination of ideas canlead to creative breakthroughs.Collaborative relationships thrive inan environment of personal trust. Wellplacedtrust grows out of experience andinteraction over time. But it is also builtby getting to know people as individuals.The Altron YPC encourages collaborationthrough formal and informal networks.Formal networks such as groups,forums, workshops and training acceleratethe flow of knowledge and information.Informal networks on the otherhand build personal relationships andtrust. The Altron YPC builds informalnetworks through events, social mediaand networking.View the Altron YPC collaborationvideo at bit.ly/ODJGSh.A brand new lookThe Altron YPC executive committee decided at its strategicplanning session earlier this year that the time had come to relaunchthe Club. “We realised that we needed a fresh approachto create broad spectrum awareness of the Club’s objectives andits value proposition,” says Wayne Munilall, Altron YPC chairman.Believing that a new Club has to look like a new Club, thecommittee initiated the process to create a new brand for theAltron YPC. The first step was to find a new look.The new branding was officially launched at theAltron Awards on 18 July, in conjunction with a revitalisedmembership drive.“We are excited about our new brand and believe itrepresents the fresh, dynamic and professional nature ofthe Club,” concludes Wayne.

30CSI PROFILEThe change for all to seeGhandi once said “you have to be the change you want to see”. Nowhereis this more evident than in the wards and halls of the ShandukaniMaternal and Child Health Centre that recently opened in Hillbrow.Celebrating the official handover of the Shandukani facility were, among others,Ntombi Megwe (in red), the Gauteng MEC for Health; next to her Dr AaronMotsoaledi, Minister of Health; and Helen Reese (in the grey dress and blackjacket), executive director of the WRHI. Back row, far left, Robbie Venter, AltronCE; next to him Craig Venter, CEO of Altech; front row, second from left, SearaMkhabela, Altron group executive corporate affairs. Joe Makhafola, Altech groupexecutive corporate affairs, marketing, government liaison & regulatory affairs isin the back row, second from right.After two years of hard work,Shandukani, which means“change” in Venda, was officiallyopened during July.Located in Hillbrow in Johannesburg’sinner city, the facility is notable for itsstate-of-the-art technology and integratedapproach to healthcare. Shandukanibrings high-tech health and researchfacilities to a community marked byabove-average rates of HIV and infectiousdiseases, and ensures that vulnerablewomen and children have accessto expert medical care and treatment ontheir doorstep.In addition to its role as a working labourward and maternal health facility,Shandukani will be used to train healthcareproviders, community workers andresearchers. It is also home to a worldclassresearch team working on a rangeof health-related topics of national andregional significance, including HIV/ConservationkudosShandukani is the proud winner of thisyear’s Colosseum Award for ConservingJohannesburg. The award recognised thepreservation of one of the city’s importantarchitectural heritage assets and the transformationof a derelict building intoa R30-million contemporary clinic.The Van Niekerk Operating Theatrewas built in 1927 on the grounds of theold Hillbrow Hospital. When it was decided torestore and transform it into a modern healthcarefacility, the architects were tasked withpreserving the building’s architectural integrityin recognition of its significant heritage valueand historical importance. A professional team,led by specialist conservation architects, HenryPaine and Partners and represented by KylieRichards, worked tirelessly to make this visiona reality. Henry Paine describes the work asone of his “favourite projects ever”. The ProvincialHeritage Resources Authority Gauteng(PHRAG) was on hand to make sure all alterationswere done sensitively and in harmonywith the surroundings.Commenting on the Colosseum Award, SearaMkhabela, Altron group executive: corporate affairs,praises the meaningful involvement of thewhole Altron group: “We contributed more thanmoney, electronic equipment and project managementskills. Thanks to our support, Shandukaniwill not only benefit thousands of womenand children living in the inner city; the buildingitself will remain a piece of living history.”The Colosseum Award came about in 1982during the struggle to save the Colosseumbuilding from demolition, and continues topromote the conservation of heritage buildings

CSI PROFILE31Aids, TB, maternal and child healthcare,infectious diseases, reproductive healthand social science.Shandukani is a pioneering public/private partnership between the GautengDepartment of Health, the VodacomFoundation, Altron, Altech andthe Wits Reproductive Health & HIVInstitute (WRHI). It is hoped that Shandukani’sexample will pave the wayfor similar projects that will transformservice delivery to South Africans.“Altron’s corporate social investmentsform an integral part of its commitmentto broad-based black economicempowerment. Shandukani is the firstgroup-wide flagship project involving all150 operations in the group,” says SearaMkhabela, Altron group executive: corporateaffairs. “We believe in the valueof public/private partnerships of whichthis project is an example.”Joe Makhafola, group executive:corporate affairs at Altech, says Shandukanireflects Altech’s CSI philosophy: “Itrepresents our support for communityclinics, community health programmesand HIV/Aids awareness in a trulyintegrated manner. Altech believes thatpeople are its prime asset and is committedto sustainable investments intheir wellbeing.”The Van Niekerk Operating Theatre Building two years ago.in the inner city. To be eligible for the award,projects must fulfil the renovation criteria set outin the national and provincial heritage policies.The Colosseum Award is a key feature ofthe Halala Joburg Awards, which encouragesefforts to build sustainable and inclusive renewalprojects that recognise the roles of, and relationshipsbetween, the private and public sectors.The Halala Joburg Awards were establishedin 2008 to promote the City’s goal of regeneratingthe inner city. Nominees undergo a rigorousprocess before making it onto the short list. Eachproject is thoroughly assessed by an industryrelatedadjudication panel.The specialised services centre after the R30-million upgrade.

32CSI PROFILEHockey unlocks new horizonsBytes Connect recently sponsored20 underprivileged childrento participate in a hockeyskills programme arrangedby non-profit organisation, FutureFamilies. The 18-week programme willultimately touch 100 children, and ispresented at the Old Albanian HockeyClub which had started a junior hockeyclub in partnership with St Albans College.Bytes Connect is sponsoring thejunior club for a year.Future Families is an NGO that caresfor orphans and vulnerable childrenwho have been affected by HIV/Aidsin the greater Tshwane area. The 6 500children it works with are visited by atrained care worker once a week. Theorganisation ensures that the childrenattend school, receive assistance withtheir homework, participate in holidayprogrammes, and acquire life skillsEquipped for the futurethrough peer education. It also runsgroups for single parents, includinggrannies who raise their grandchildren.Future Familes has established 220 vegetablegardens in the community.The hockey programme has severalobjectives, says Andrew Holden, MDof Bytes Connect. “The children aretaught the technical skills of playinghockey on Astroturf, but almost moreimportantly they learn about teamwork and how to have fun. And whoknows – a love of the game froman early age could result in future Olympicteam members!”Penny Learmonth, executive directorof Future Families, says that opportunitiessuch as this allow the children tosee a life beyond the circumstances inwhich they find themselves. “It buildstheir self-esteem when they master newskills and see their talents emerge.”The first 30 women to have completed an endusercomputer training programme under theauspices of the Progressive Women’s Movementof South Africa (PWMSA), recently celebratedtheir success at a graduation ceremony atthe Tshwane Academy for Leadership andManagement.The ICT training project was launched in Julylast year. The partnership between PWMSA andBytes People Solutions is funded by the Media,Advertising, Information and CommunicationTechnologies Training Authority (MICT Seta),and is aimed at training young women in ICTin six Gauteng municipalities.Bytes People Solutions delivers the training.The company’s MD, Dr Madelise Grobler,regards the first graduates as a significantmilestone: “These women now have a realchance of succeeding in the workplace andwe have every confidence that they will addvalue to any of the companies to which theyare assigned.”Photographed at the awards ceremonyare (from left) Dr Madelise Grobler,MD Bytes People Solutions; IdaDiale, PWMSA learner; and Dr GwenRamokgopa, Deputy Minister ofHealth.

Bytes Conference Centre offersspecial rates to Altron GroupBENEFITS PROFILE 33The 4-star Bytes Conference Centre in Midrand is offering Altron Group companies special discounted rates as part ofits marketing programme to attract new business. Conveniently situated off the New Road off-ramp in Midrand, thecentre boasts excellent meeting facilities and professional service.Newly appointed general manager, Paul Campbell, invites all group companies to considerthe facilities when choosing a conference venue in the area. Full day conference package,inclusive of a three course lunch: R295 per person, Cocktail event: R195 per personEnquiries: Paul or WendyTel (011) 205-7152 Fax (011) 205-7009 www.bytes.co.zaThe guest speaker at the Altron Awards wasadventurer David Grier, who travels the worldin aid of the Cipla Miles for Smiles foundation.The foundation was formed to help OperationSmile create awareness for the plight of childrenborn with cleft lips and palates, and to raise fundsto perform corrective surgery on them.People who attended the Awards were soinspired by David’s presentation that requeststo support his work have been pouring in.Dr Venter and his wife Penny have pledged toadd to monies raised by Altron employees witha donation of their own.If you want to add your contribution to theAltron donation, contact Grant Rogerson:Tel +27 (0)11 645 3643Email grogerson@altron.com

BYTESTECHNOLOGY GROUP