Here we are, already well into the first quarter and the year ahead looks promising.

2011 was a challenging year for CSSA but with the challenges came change and we begin 2012 renewed, refocused and ready to take on 2012. I would personally like to kick off the first ezine by thanking our members for all their support in 2011 – we are most grateful and you are assured of our continued efforts to serve you.

We held a successful Annual Report Awards in November which was attended by over 400 people and we received over 100 entries – a record breaker! The graduation ceremony at the end of September celebrated the wonderful achievements of our hard working students.

We have just launched a new student marketing campaign and have received some very positive feedback, our CPD seminars start at the end of the month and the number of new students joining the Institute continues to increase. All this bodes well for CSSA as the industry recognises the vital role of the Chartered Secretary profession.

We are pleased to welcome Mr Tshediso Matona, Director General of DPE, as a member – he joins the ranks as a Fellow member and adds to the high calibre of individuals we are proud to call our members.

We profile Chris Durham (Company Secretary of Truworths International) Charles Botha (author) and Sibusiso Motsa (former Chairman of the Swaziland centre) – successful members on the move and making an impact.

Clinton Roth and Thomas Kurewa are two students we are proud to introduce.

Mr Matona – Director General of the Department of Public Enterprises

Qualifications
I am an economist by training. I received my Honours degree from UCT with economics and political science as majors. I was a researcher at a University in the school of economics and researched international trade for two years. I received a British Council scholarship in 1993 and obtained my Masters degree in Development Economics in the UK.

I joined the government and the dti in 1995 and focused on trade policy and trade negotiations, which I found rather exciting and did for a few years.  

I grew within the ranks until I became Director-General at the dti in 2005. I transferred laterally to the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) in January 2011. This move gives me the opportunity to complete my knowledge of the domestic economy and industry, and in particular infrastructure, which is vital in this economy. I was honoured to be invited to join CSSA through the special entry scheme in 2011.

Well-governed enterprises have become vital and issues of corporate governance have always been a big interest for me. At the dti, we dealt with company law, and in fact the NCA (New Companies Act) was developed very much under my watch.

We also introduced amendments to the Competitions Act in 2008 – to penalise directors who wilfully engage in misconduct and unlawful practices. Corporate governance takes on a wider context than just the way the Board operates, and issues of corporate governance loom very large in what I do now at the DPE. We have to look at how these public enterprises operate, how they manage their outputs and their impact on industry and the economy.

We take a powerful and wide corporate governance perspective which allows us to link the issues of impact, because the impact of companies depends very much on how they are run and are managed.

I kind of feel that my life has been a journey of enlightenment and personal empowerment that has made me feel I can offer so much back to my country. My development has been all-rounded with very sharp exposure to the private sector from the vantage point of being in the public sector.

Could you describe your current position as DG of PE in a nutshell
I head up a department which is the shareholder representative on behalf of the state in eight State-Owned Companies (SOCs) looking into the affairs of these Companies, from how they plan, how they execute, how they report and how they are managed. And ensuring that it’s all aligned with the expectations of the shareholder and the state’s requirements. It is complex, dynamic, yet exciting.

What would say was your biggest achievement as DG of the dti
To summarise – it was to create a platform on which the economy is going to develop and grow into the future.

This platform consists of various critical pieces such as: the legislation we created, e.g broad based economic empowerment (BBBEE). Regulatory frameworks through competition law, company law and consumer, as well as policies and strategies for enterprise development and industrial development in South Africa.

How does it feel to be responsible for such major state entities? It must no doubt be a very daunting task
One always thinks about the possibility of failure but the scale of the responsibility and the fear of failure is what in a sense creates this sense of passion, drive and energy that enables one to cope. When you look back overtime you see that you are making a difference and that is fulfilling. I always say to people that when you do big jobs and you succeed, you typically attract bigger jobs and big responsibilities in your life.

What is your view on the role that corporate governance plays in SOCs?
Corporate governance is at the core of everything with regards to what SOCs are about. Typically the management of SOCs is associated with a unique set of incentives to their conduct compared to private enterprises. I often ask myself about the management of SOC: “If that was your money would you do those sorts of things?” An organisation must have robust corporate governance norms and we must enforce them. Simple things like reporting – we got this right as required by the statutes; but now it’s the question of what’s in the report. This is where King 3 is very useful – it allows us to measure where we are and where we still need to go. We then know where to commit. We are satisfied that we have communicated King 3 very clearly to our SOCs. So now when we monitor them the tools and vocab of King 3 is most useful.

We look at the King code as guidelines – they cannot cater for every circumstance. It’s understanding the spirit of King 3 and using them to innovate for our own needs as it were.

Your view on the role of a Chartered secretary/the role our Institute has to play in the business world?
Something like CSSA as an organisation and the role of the Chartered Secretary will be much more vital in the unfolding environment of corporate governance. In previous years (before some of the famous corporate governance failures in South Africa and abroad) it was easy to take corporate governance for granted but since then we all acknowledge we need it. It is like the air we breathe, without which we suffocate. I think corporate governance has attained that status. Those that dabble in it are significant pioneers of our future. It’s important in even the smallest organisations. If you are in business and you set goals – corporate governance and the Chartered Secretaries will help you to achieve those goals.

You are a fantastic role model for the youth of this country – young, successful, in a position of power, a champion for the up and coming. What could you offer as inspiration for the youth?
A worthwhile experience of youth is one which combines a sense of personal self-fulfilment and positive impact on your fellow colleagues and on the community and society you live. It’s about ensuring constant progress, which is on the cumulative effect of being goal driven. It’s an approach which I encourage young people to adopt. It leads to a fuller life.

I come from a history of political activism during the dark heydays of apartheid in the 1970s, to the heavy militancy of the 1980s. This transformed us into instruments of change. That template is firmly imprinted into my being and conscience.

If we could reproduce such models on a larger scale, the future would be more secure. Having young people with no purpose is a social threat.

Meet Mr Chris Durham, (FCIS), Company Secretary of Truworths International

Can you describe briefly what your job entails?
In my role as Company Secretary of the JSE-listed fashion retailing group, Truworths International, I fulfil the traditional role of company secretary, besides having general management responsibilities. I have a portfolio which includes corporate administration, financial reporting, tax management, property administration, insurance management, financial services administration, risk management, retirement and healthcare benefit management, general legislative compliance, and sustainability and transformation consulting.

What challenges does it bring, anything that would be interesting and inspiring to other members and students?
The key challenges are currently to remain up to date with the fast-paced legislative changes impacting listed companies and the retailing industry in particular, and to balance the diverse demands on my time given my varied involvement. What does keep my adrenalin flowing and my enthusiasm and energy levels high, is the competitiveness of the clothing retail sector, the leanness of our management team and the desire to be respected by my colleagues for the contribution I can make in terms of up-to-date knowledge and technical skill towards ensuring our business continues to grow in a sustainable manner.

When and why did you choose the CSSA qualification?
I chose to study the CSSA qualification in 1984 because the course offered a specialist component in company secretaryship blended with a number of complementary subjects that are most useful in a general management role and, if successfully completed, would lead to an internationally recognised professional qualification in corporate administration. That I was able to study after-hours in a classroom context whilst holding down full time employment, was also a key consideration.

What you have achieved since completing it; how it has contributed to your career?
Completing the course and subsequently being admitted into Fellowship of the Institute undoubtedly accelerated advancements in my career, firstly at Ernst & Young where I was fortunate to receive my initial training and work experience whilst still studying, before moving through the managerial and consultant ranks, and from 1999 onwards at Truworths International where my qualification has equipped me to assume increasingly broader and varied responsibilities over time. The course provided a very solid foundation for my subsequent post-graduate studies in advanced company law.

What do you enjoy about your career?
I most enjoy the variety and diversity of my role for which the CSSA qualification has most ably equipped me, as well as the specialist and professional role I am able to play in a highly successful South African based clothing retailing group that is internationally recognised. The high-level interactions I am able to have on a routine basis with directors and professional consultants is intellectually stimulating and being responsible for a respected governance framework in a challenging business environment gives me a great sense of satisfaction.

Why would you recommend it to others?
The CSSA qualification is to be recommended to students who seek to obtain a solid understanding in subjects of a general management nature, whilst having the opportunity to obtain a sought-after specialist qualification in company secretaryship that is professionally accredited and internationally recognised.

Any inspirational anecdotes for fellow members and students?
The CSSA qualification standards are as tough as they should be. Completing the course will not only give you a great sense of personal achievement, but will also open up tremendous career opportunities and enable you to leverage your skills for the tangible benefit of whatever organisation you may join. Being able to contribute at this high level will provide self-fulfilment and a key sense of purpose in your life, and earn the respect of your colleagues for your professionalism and versatility.

Bring Nature Back front cover

Meet Mr Charles Botha (ACIS), past chairman of the Durban Branch as well as a past council member.  

Member of long standing, past chairman of the Durban Branch as well as a past council member. The KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Branch of the Botanical Society (BotSoc) is pleased to announce that the publication Bring Butterflies Back to your Garden, by Charles and Julia Botha, has been awarded the University of KwaZulu-Natal Book Prize in the “General Category”.

The book was published by this branch of BotSoc in 2006. It features descriptions of all indigenous butterfly larval food plants known at the time, which number over 500. In the words of Dr Eugene Moll, past national chairman of BotSoc, it is an encyclopaedia of butterfly gardening.

The book is available from the BotSoc branch office at:
tel: 031 201 5111 or email: botsoc-kzn@mweb.co.za.

Mr Sibusiso Motsa, (FCIS), former Swaziland Centre Chairman.

Mr Motsa has been in private practice for fourteen years, providing accounting and secretarial services and also held the following high profile positions:

• Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications – Chairman of the Audit Committee
• Swaziland Electricity Company – Chairman of the Audit Committee
• Registrar of Insurance and Retirement Funds – Board member
• Swaziland Competition Commission Chairman of Board of Directors
• Swaziland Airlink (Pty) Ltd – Chairman of Board of Directors

"The qualification was recommended to me by an expert from the United Nations with whom I used to work. I would highly recommend it because it is broader than other qualifications and gives you more paths to pursue.

"The institute, as I see it, plays a vital role in the business world of today by ensuring that members are kept informed of the current trends in business."

Thomas Kurewa

What I do 
After several years of varied international accounting and finance experience with the last four years spent with Petrochemicals giant Sasol, I developed a keen interest in systems implementations so that I could fully deploy my financial background to build systems in strategic markets that add value to organisations. I am currently working on a ground breaking project for Standard Bank South Africa with SAP AG as an SAP Specialist under Group IT. The objective of my role is that as SAP solutions are being implemented, there will ultimately be resources that are able to run and support the system fully in order to derive value from this investment. The key to my role is knowledge transfer to Technical and Functional teams.

Why I chose to do CSSA
It was back then in the 1990s from a career guidance session that I was weighing options of being an accountant or an attorney. A former Chief Executive Officer of a local municipality chided to us that with CSSA you will be conversant with issues such as implementation of council resolutions to maintaining proper administrative and financial systems.
I wanted a course that is not purely number crunching but something with diversity.

What I enjoy about my career
CSSA has exposed me to various facets of business processes so that I can decide the path of my career. I have set my sight on areas of Evaluation Performance and Monitoring. I enjoy working on tools that will help business to perform its activities much easier. I work in a competitive challenging market, where there is always the temptation of taking an overseas job. I derive satisfaction from the fact that ultimately the future of Africa is in our hands.

Would you recommend CIS to others
You cannot take away what the Chartered Secretary has learnt. CSSA is detailed in nature as it is relevant to work place issues compared to a university degree. I read for my Accounting Degree the same time as CSSA .The combination was beneficial to me as I enjoyed my Advanced Financial Accounting, Corporate Governance and Auditing papers. In today’s operating environment, where corruption and corporate governance issues are topical, the demand for Compliance Officers with our professional integrity will increase.

Inspirational words for fellow members and students
I was inspired by Vincent Van Gogh who observed,"Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together".  Furthermore, Rick Beneteau held the view, "You cannot climb a mountain if you will not risk a fall". One needs courage and determination to forge ahead. The Institute has the tools to climb the mountain. Take a keen interest in the Institute’s activities to network and share information that might help you pass your next paper.

Clinton Roth

Assistant Business Manager to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (2007 to present).

Why I chose to study with CSSA

• My manager and mentor helped me choose CSSA as it directly linked my current role with my future aspirations.
• Seemed like an obvious next step after a BCom Business Management Honours because it’s a professional qualification with professional registration.
• It is a highly respected qualification.
• CSSA was a good way to “cement” and consolidate my current business knowledge (on the job and past qualifications) with aspects of business that I have not formally been exposed to.
• The qualification is recognised in many countries, which opens doors to the international business arena.

What do you enjoy about your career?

• I am honoured to be part of an organisation that has the potential to make a very significant contribution not only to the students we serve but also to SA and the world.
• I enjoy the variety of aspects of business I am exposed to including Finance, Marketing, Human resources, Administration and Law.
• I enjoy working with other professionals and learning from them.
• I enjoy being an adviser, helping people, developing systems and procedures, drafting policies, sitting on various committees and planning for the future.
• I understand and accept that whenever I transact or make a decision, I am doing it in the best interest of the Academy, its staff and students.I enjoy this level of responsibility because it requires me to always be on top of my game.

Would you recommend this course of study to others?

• This is a very challenging course.
• The course requires reading and research beyond just what you would find in the study text. This has not only enhanced my research skills but also improved my general knowledge of the business world.
• The course exposes you to many aspects of business that you may otherwise not necessarily be exposed to.
• When you have completed the course you will feel very proud of your accomplishment because it requires serious dedication and commitment.
• CSSA is affordable which helps when you pay for your own studies.

Any inspirational anecdotes for fellow students
Balancing work, home and studies is a challenge. When you just don’t feel like you can pick up another book to study for the exam, just remember that the extra effort may just result in you being unexpectedly invited to the next graduation ceremony because you have won a prize. Having your name called out in front of the other graduates is an amazing feeling and well worth the effort.

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Nicky Edmunds President
Dolly Singh
Bert Kok Past President

Graduates, prize winners and their guests were warmly welcomed at the graduation ceremony held on 29 September 2011 at the Wits School of Education. It was a most enjoyable evening and we look forward to seeing what the student department puts together this year. We would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the superstars:

This is the first edition of the Chartered Secretaries Southern Africa eZine 2012. Should you have any suggestions or specific information you would like included in future editions, please revert to Janine Kusters, membership and marketing manager, Janine@icsa.co.za