LIMPOPO MPUMALANGA NORTH WEST ISSUE
Mining, Tourism & Farming
CREDITS Editor Michelle Geel Design & Layout DE Design Studio Project Manager Nina Nodder Advertising Sales Nigel Milton, Glenda McGregor Associate Publisher Dave Eastwood
No article or any part of any article may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the publishers. The information provided and opinions expressed in this publication are provided in good faith but do not necessarily represent the opinions of this publication, the publisher or the editor. Neither this magazine, the publisher or the editor can be held legally liable in any way for damages of any kind whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from any facts or information provided or omitted in these pages, or from any statements made or withheld by this publication. SA Career Guide is published by Millennium Media (PTY) Ltd. All material contained herein, the concept, idea, and all intellectual rights are the sole ownership and under copyright of Millennium Media (Pty)Ltd, and may not be copied or reproduced in anyway. This disclaimer forms part of a full disclaimer that can be found at http://www.milmedia.co.za
ROCK YOUR
WAY TO
YOUR BIG
ACHIEVEMENT
“The Fasset Ithemba Bridging programme experience truly rocked my world,” says Mike Chidi, a finance intern at Colourtech Holdings and a budding Chartered Accountant. “The skills taught helped prepare me to become a valuable asset in the business world. They also developed my self-confidence, optimism, patience, self reliance and integrity. These are the skills and values that will create powerful leaders of the future.”
“Life is a journey,” he says. “Throughout my journey, I have gathered experiences and skills that will lead me to success. This could not have happened without the people I have met along the way. Hopefully, I have added some value to their journeys too.” Mike Chidi
Turn your potential into skills, choose a career in finance and accounting.
VISIT WWW.FASSETLEGACY.CO.ZA
TO READ MIKE’S STORY
https://www.facebook.com/fasset.org
Choos e a dr believe eam & in it
There’s no place like home. We have our place. They have theirs. Visit nspca.co.za for more about the hazards of capturing and breeding exotic animals. BlastBC 126829
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ADVANCED CERTIFICATE IN EXERCISE SCIENCE - EXERCISE SPECIALIST (NQF6) With Sports Conditioning Coach
Learn while you earn! You are now between the ages of 15 and 25… and you are wondering what next? • It is going to cost a fortune to go to University or college • Your future seems bleak with 3,9m Matric’s not employed • The failure rate at University is in the region of 60-70% • TVETS are busy re-aligning • Many qualified youth are sitting at home than employed • Jobs becoming fewer as the economy slows down • Crime, violence and unrest on the rise all over the country HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF LEARNING WHILST YOU EARN! The other day I read a few Global reports on millenials and you are one of them if you fall into the above age bracket – actually up to 35 but you will understand later in this article. Millenials are an estimated 91 million with the average age at 23… You are the most Tech Savvy of all the generations and focused on group work, lifestyle, relationships….. So where can you do that? The modern Trades need gifted, bright, innovative, and strong YOUNG DRIVEN people … IMPERIAL Technical Training Academy is recognised as The industry leader and largest private Technical Trades Training provider for the Auto and Auto related industries In South Africa with more than 1000 apprentices registered and training under 7 trades. experi The Automotive trades are one of the most advanced Trades in South Africa globally and currently experiencing a critical shortage in youngsters … These wheels need to be serviced, repaired, cared for, built, manufactured, assembled, replaced, or even modified and it takes sharp people… YOU! IMPERIAL is looking for YOU! We offer fully employed, full benefit JOB and “learn whilst you earn” trades in Automotive Light and Heavy Vehicle (petrol and Diesel), Motorcycle and Scooter, Forklift, Auto Electrical and Autotronics, Automotive Body Repair and Spray Painting. You see the challenge is for the IMPERIAL Technical Training Academies to provide a continuous supply of large numbers of qualified artisans for the Imperial Business Network, Many private clients and the Industry at large.
Working through the sands of time By Michelle Geel
CAREERS IN
MINING - TOURISM - FARMING
Across the majority of South Africa three industries rise as mega players in our countries economy and well being of our land...... in Mining, Farming, and Tourism. From Musina to Bloemfontein to Upington to the Limpopo, these 3 staples of the South African landscape are deeply rooted in ancient soils of our country and offer a multitude of careers across the platforms and allow young people to follow both a career and, in many cases, a passion, outside of the normal Farmer, Tour Guide, Miner options that most people initially associate these industries with.
MINING The mining industry is generally one of the highest paid industrial sectors worldwide, depending on what position you hold and your qualification level, and this is especially prevalent in countries, such as Canada, a country where many South African mine employees have settled in order to earn Dollars. The mining industry is a hugely diverse industry that offers positions across the board. And the good news is that you don’t have to be an engineer to work in the mining industry, there are positions for tradesmen such as electricians, welders, carpenters, mechanics and boilermakers. Then there are the positions for operators, drivers, miners, blasting crews and machine operators. There are also positions for engineers, geologists, environmental and safety candidates, as well as for health care professionals, accounting staff, human resources, IT professionals, chefs and within the accounting field‌.. And so the list goes on and on. However before you start the process of trying to break into this diverse, exciting industry, there are a couple of things that you should consider first. If you are not currently living in a country or area that has mining, depending on what career you want to pursue in mining, there is a chance you will have to relocate. This in itself can be a huge process, and needs to always be thought through very carefully. Mines are not always located in the most glamorous areas either. Relocating is however, not always a prerequisite, as many mines have their offices located in cities, but these positions are going to be for the more administrative roles. The technical roles will be onsite. The more technical roles in the mining industry generally will require somebody who is in good general physical and mental health. Mines also tend
to be on the go around the clock, so there is a chance that if you wish to become a miner, that you will be required to work shifts. Certain positions in the mining industry pay quite well. Regardless of whether you are a geologist, an accountant, a mechanic or a chef, the chances are that you will be well remunerated, depending on the candidates experience and qualifications. There is also tremendous opportunity for growth and training within the industry. Many mining jobs offer training, and keep their staff very up to date with new skills.
FARMING Across South Africa and as far back as the history of our land goes, there has been farming in one or another form on our land. From the first indigenous farmers, to the settlers that arrived, first planting the vines of the Cape and then trekking North, settling in and creating cattle and crop farms as they went, our the sands of our country have been worked. Agriculture is an exciting career choice with the food and farming sector employing thousands of people across South Africa on a daily basis in a wide variety of roles. Careers in the sector range from Engineers and scientists to farm managers, accountants, vets and soil specialists to name only a few. You also have a range of farming options to consider ranging from cattle to wine to crop farming and many more in between. While your dream may be to work with numbers, every farm needs an accountant or bookkeeper. You may have a passion for working with machinery and a may find work as a diesel mechanic working with tractors and other heavy duty equipment. Wine farms make use of many scientific principles within their industry and you can combine a love of wine and science in a career on a wine farm. Agricultural has been around for thousands of years and with so many career possibilities it is easier to segment the choices by field rather than specific jobs: Agricultural communications; Agricultural Economics; Agricultural Education; Agricultural Engineering; Agronomy/Soils; Animal Sciences; Food Sciences. Most universities offer opportunities for
study within agriculture and the associated fields, but if you are not quite ready to commit to a particular career, many farms or agricultural sales companies are willing to take interns or part time employees on to learn the field.
TOURISM As one of the top tourism destinations in the world and with a massively diverse range of fields, from Game parks to city tours, a career in Tourism can be a long and rewarding choice for a young person. A career in tourism is an great investment in your future, and as one of the quickest expanding industries in the world, new job opportunities are constantly being created with a diversity of abilities and skills required to fill these positions. In Tourism, your future is only limited by your ambition. Working in Tourism allows you to open people’s eyes to the beauty and diversity of your country and allows you to share your passion for your country. You will get an opportunity to work with new people and create a lasting memory for tourists. Even if your passion isn’t dealing with people, the Tourism industry has thousands of
business’s needing accountants, bookkeepers, telephone operators, administration staff, Kitchen staff, and so on. Within the industry there are a range of job opportunities within Hotels, Cruise ships, the Airline Industry, Game parks, Food & Beverage and the Service Industry where you deal directly with the public. Most universities and colleges in South Africa offer either the basic and/or advanced study options for working in Tourism while certain Game parks offer ranger courses. Go down to your local SA Tourism office and chat to someone in their offices if you are not sure where to begin to follow your passion. The sands of South Africa are rich and offer opportunities across many fields. No matter what your passion is, there is a career out there just waiting for you.
The MQA and Lonmin Partnership Benefits Local Mining Community The Mining Qualifications Authority formed a partnership with the Lonmin mining company to develop the skills of unemployed youth residing in the surrounding mining community.
The following programmes focused on youth between the ages of 18 and 25:
The following programme focused on individuals between the ages of 20 and 60:
University Preparedness
Mine Technical Skills
Portable Skills
The programme is a flagship programme and is designed to address the skills shortages in the mining and minerals sector, with 13 male and 7 female beneficiaries participating in this learning programme.
Sixteen unemployed youth were provided with a one year residential programme where they learned first year engineering concepts, designs and subjects to prepare for tertiary engineering studies which are the pipeline for the Lonmin Bursary Scheme. This programme was specifically designed to reduce the high failure rate of first year engineering students, and it employed six full time lecturers and four support staff. There were 12 male and 4 female beneficiaries who participated in this programme.
Twenty unemployed youths were provided with a one year exposure programme in accredited Mining Technical Skills. The course comprised on the job exposure, together with training in survey draughting, strata control, basic sampling, basic survey, mine CAD, mine planning, geology and training in Competent A and Competent B.
A total of 156 unemployed community members were trained in various portable skills. The Bapo-baMogale Traditional Authority requested training on the following portable skills to create part-time of full-time employment within their current structures: • Basic welding and cutting • Basic plumbing techniques • Basic carpentry • Basic sewing skills and basic pattern making • Basic cooking • Basic administrative skills and computer literacy • Basic electrical work • Basic bricklaying • Landscaping and gardening • Hospitality There were 24 male and 132 female beneficiaries who participated in this programme.
Engineering Learnerships
Forty one unemployed youths are on a 3 year 18.2 engineering learnership programme in various trades. The majority of the 41 students wrote their trade exam at the end of 2014. There were 32 male and 9 female beneficiaries who participated in this programme.
For more information on this and other learning opportunities, please contact the Mining Qualifications Authority. Tel: 011 547 2600 E-mail: info@mqa.org.za Website: www.mqa.org.za
CAREER FOCUS Senior Scientist
Eldridge
Kgaswan
e
Council for Geoscience Career Opportunities The Council for Geoscience has been mandated as a Scientific Research Council; to provide for the promotion of research and the extension of knowledge in the field of geoscience. The CGS has to promote research and exploitation of, any mineral in South Africa, to undertake research in the field of geoscience and to furnish specialized geoscientific services. The specific areas of scientific services include: • Geophysics • Seismology • Geochemistry • Minerals Development • Information collection management • Spatial Data management • Engineering Geoscience • Water Geoscience • Environmental Geoscience • Marine Geoscience • Geological mapping If you are interested in a career with the CGS please contact us. Contact information Email: info@geoscience.org.za Tel: +27 (0)12 841 1911 Fax: +27 (0)12 841 1221
280 Pretoria Street, Silverton, Pretoria 0184 | Private Bag X112, Pretoria, South Africa 0184 | www.geoscience.org.za
Council for Geoscience Applied Geoscience Solutions
the sky’s the
LIMIT By Michelle Geel
For young people in South Africa, career options are endless. With some top tertiary education establishments in South Africa and many company head offices, one doesn’t need to travel far to get a quality education to follow your dream. You may not be one for the belief that money can buy you anything and that happiness is more important, but there is a certain satisfaction in doing what you love, and getting paid for it. If research is anything to go by, you’ll soon learn that many people still consider salary and compensation to be top of the list when thinking about whether or not to accept a job, no matter how much you want to rather follow your passion. One of the great things about South Africa is its varied career choices both in, and out of the proverbial careers box!
Veterinarian A veterinarian (also known as an “animal doctor�) is a person who protects the health and well-being of animals. They diagnose and control animal diseases, and treat sick and injured animals. They also educate people on caring properly for their pets and livestock. Veterinary doctors are able to work in many different areas of specialisation. These include opening a private practice, teaching, public health, research, government service, private industry, military service etc. The only facility of its kind in South Africa, The Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria is one of only 46 veterinary faculties in Africa. The Veterinary Academic Hospital provides state of the art facilities for the clinical departments and is the focus of the Faculty’s service-rendering activities to its immediate community and also serves as a national referral facility. The South African Veterinary Association (SAVA) is a professional association of veterinarians in South Africa. The Association promotes the interests and activities of the professionals in the field and helps veterinarians to fulfil their role in their communities.
Lawyer If you decide that law is for you, then you need to enroll for an LLB degree which takes 4 to 5 years. If you aspire to work at one of the prestigious law firms, you will need to apply yourself from day 1 because marks count in the competitive world of law. Gauteng has some top tertiary institutions to study law and legal related careers like paralegal studies. Go online and check out what is on offer, taking into account that studying to be an attorney takes time and a lot of hard work. Many law students drift through university and are surprised when the degree comes to its end and other students seem to be landing high paying jobs. The difference between the students that get snapped up and those that get left behind is preparation. So start preparing now if this is the path for you.
Au Pair With the large quantity of homes across Gauteng, there is a call for good Au pairs. With the needs of parents ranging from high income, to both parents working, to home schooling on a plot in the countryside, this is the career worth considering if you have an affinity for it. Au pair positions offer extra income for school leavers and can be a long term career or a stop gap while you decide what to study. Au pairs are responsible for looking after children and making sure that their needs are met. Duties may include fetching the children from school, helping with homework, preparing meals and taking them to extracurricular activities. Vacancies for an Au Pair are available online. Applicants for this position should preferably have a valid driver’s licence and have done first aid courses. There are various courses that can be done and can have an impact on your earning potential when applying for jobs.
Equine Management Gauteng has a large quantity of stud farms and yards where you can persue your love for all things horse related. Equine managers are responsible for ensuring the overall wellbeing of horses in a variety of situations, such as boarding, training, transport and breeding. Early in a career, equine managers may clean stalls and pens, turn horses out to exercise and check bedding materials for pests. They continually observe horse behavior, since the behavior of the horse may indicate health problems. Equestrian managers also make certain that the horses’ health, nutrition and medical treatments are up to date. Additionally, managers are commonly responsible for the business side of the occupation. For example, equine managers may train employees and help in the preparation of horse auctions, shows or events. As they advance in the profession or they might also manage facilities, schedules and personnel and take care of marketing and budgets. Some of the top Equine management courses are offered in Tswane and surrounds, so a bit of searching on the net will give you all the information you need.
Military Service With headquarters in Pretoria, the Department of Defence offers young people an opportunity to both serve their country and study further. With the aim to equip young people with life skills, the DoD offers various study opportunities across the arms of service (Army, Air force and Navy) Learning valuable life skills while in service, the military has many branches within each arm, from chef to engineer, infantryman to parabat. The Department of Defence employ young, fit and healthy candidates who are Citizens of the Republic of South Africa. New members will serve for a two-year period to augment the SANDF’s deployment capability. At the expiring of the two-year term contract, the majority of each intake will be channelled into the SA National Defence Force and the rest to the Reserve Force. Only the best of the best will be selected for continued service in the SA National Defence Force. Whatever career you choose to peruse, Gauteng is filled with opportunity and esteemed institutions of learning. The sky is quite literally the limit when it comes to pursuing your passion and you are only limited by the limits you place on yourself.
CAREER FOCUS Phlebotomist
Jane M
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amoraswi
CAREER FOCUS PHARMACY MANAGER
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We are committed to the principles of Employment Equity For more information visit http://careers.clicksgroup.co.za
MARINE CAREERS A Sea of Possibilities
Students thinking about careers in the marine sciences often picture themselves working with dolphins or whales. Within the marine science fields however, only a few scientists specialize in that area. This section will introduce you to a wide range of marine career fields and to some of the people working in those fields.
Marine biology Marine biology is the study of marine organisms, their behaviours and their interactions with the environment. Because there are so many topics one could study within the field, many researchers select a particular interest and specialize in it. Specializations can be based on a particular species, organism, behaviour, technique or ecosystem. For example, marine biologists may choose to study a single species of clams, or all clams that are native to a climate or region. Oceanography The major disciplines of oceanography are geological oceanography, physical oceanography and chemical oceanography. Oceanographers and others involved in these disciplines often work together to unravel the mysteries and unknowns of ocean science. In reading about each of these sub-fields, keep in mind that some of the most important oceanographic discoveries have been made as a result of an integrated, multidisciplinary approach, often involving geologists, chemists, biologists, physical oceanographers and engineers. Ocean Engineering Ocean engineering provides an important link between the other oceanographic disciplines such as marine biology, chemical and physical oceanography, and marine geology and geophysics. Just as the interests of oceanographers have driven the demand for the design skills and technical expertise of ocean engineers, the innovations in instrumentation and equipment design made by ocean engineers have revolutionized the field of oceanography.
field of oceanography. Social Science How do you compute the benefits of a beautiful day at the beach? What is the value of sunny skies overhead, warm sand between your toes, and splashing in the surf with your friends? More and more, decision makers are recognizing the importance of bringing human behaviour into the decision making process for coastal and ocean policy and the management of natural resources. This examination of human behaviour is social science. Understanding the “people side” of coastal and resource management – the people who live in a coastal community and what they care about – helps inform how policies will impact them and whether or not a policy will be effective. Examples of how the fields of social science relate to coastal issues include: • Economics can examine the potential financial impacts of weather and climate variability as a basis for planning and decision-making. Economics is used to estimate the value of a day at the beach or the value of surf boards that are sold.
to determining the success or failure of regulations or policies designed to protect the environment. As the number of environmental regulations continues to grow, the need for people who understand the science behind the regulations will increase.
• Sociology, anthropology, demography and geography can provide information on a population’s vulnerabilities and behavioural responses to weather risk and climate change. These disciplines can look at the number of elderly people at risk during a hurricane and the likelihood of whether or not they evacuate. • Psychology can interpret how people perceive the risks of an impending storm or whether or not they worry about rising sea levels. (Examples provided by NOAA’s Coastal Services Centre) Marine Policy Marine policy refers to courses of action that guide the present and future management and use of marine resources. Marine policy specialists work to ensure that these courses of action, or policies, protect the environment, marine life and humans. Marine policy and marine science are interrelated because good policy is based on accurate scientific information. Science - and an understanding of the way science works - is crucial
Related Fields There are many jobs in the field of marine science that do not fit into the categories of marine biology, oceanography, ocean engineering or social and policy science. Instead, these jobs may fit more than one category, or they may overlap other fields, such as education, communication or business. Many of these jobs are highly specialized and require very different educational backgrounds, experiences and skills. Some characteristics shared by people in virtually all marine-related careers include a love of the marine environment, a respect for the way the ocean works, and a sense of curiosity. Many people in the various fields of marine science like the sense of pioneering discovery, given the fact that much remains to be learned about the way the ocean works and the organisms that inhabit it. Others describe a feeling of accomplishment or satisfaction about their work, knowing that being involved in their field has or will make a difference for present and future generations.
There are countless possibilities for a marine-related career: marine educator, science writer, filmmaker, photographer, ecotourism guide, park ranger, beach superintendent, maritime or environmental lawyer, aquavet (veterinarians that specialize in marine or aquatic animals), marine archaeologist, marine historian, fundraiser or spokesperson, aquaculturist, manager of an agency specializing in marine or freshwater issues, marina manager, ship’s captain or mate, environmental planner, manager of a land conservation organization or land trust, botanist, computer specialist with a marine or environmental organization, ecologist, hatchery specialist, landscape or maritime architect, and so on. If you like to write and you have a love for the water, ocean or environment, a career in environmental reporting, science or technical writing, communications, or public relations may be worth exploring. If you are a “people person,” enjoy teaching and public speaking, and don’t mind working long hours, a career in marine education may be for you. Even in the field of education, you can choose between formal education (a classroom or academic setting) and informal education (for example, aquaria, museums, nature or science centers, parks or wildlife refuges). If you love fish
and have considered a career as a doctor, perhaps you should consider becoming an aquavet or an aquaculture veterinarian. When thinking about careers, work environment is an important factor to consider. Marine-related job opportunities exist in virtually every setting: within government, private industry, academia (schools, colleges, and universities), business and non-profit organizations, to name a few. The positions available may be similar, but the actual day-to-day responsibilities can differ greatly, depending on which avenue you choose. For example, a ship captain could choose to work for the federal government commanding a U.S. Navy ship, for a private oceanographic research institution commanding a research vessel, or for a museum or aquarium commanding a visitor’s tour boat. While the job title may be similar, the job description could vary greatly. And, don’t forget, the best job will be one that combines your interests and skills. Consider what makes you happy. Do you like: working independently or being around others? Working at your own pace or in a more structured environment?
Flexible hours or a typical work day with a lunch hour, paid vacations and sick time? Travelling or staying close to home? Supervising and leading others or reporting to a supervisor? Working in a team setting or on your own? Being outdoors in all weather conditions, inside at a desk, or a combination? Having a career that makes you feel good about yourself and your responsibilities is very important. After all, it wouldn’t be enjoyable to get up and go to work every day if you didn’t like what you were doing.
organizations, consulting firms, and owning their own businesses. Many factors influence job opportunities in these areas, including the economy, funding and distribution of government support. Career Outlook In addition to being good scientists and The marine sciences offer many educaengineers, today’s researchers must also tional and employment opportunities. But be good writers and speakers. Not only what are the chances of finding a job in do researchers need to submit proposals your field of choice? to funding sources in an attempt to get Your ability to land a job in the marine financial support for their research, they sciences will depend on many factors. must also present their results to colAnd, while some of those factors will be leagues, decision-makers, students and out of your control, it’s important to prefunding sources. pare yourself as best you can. Throughout this website, a few key messages Careers in Academia were repeated by several of the scienWithin an academic setting, there are tists profiled in their responses to the basically three possibilities for employquestion about what advice they have ment: research and training, teaching to offer. Their advice is based on experiand research, and teaching and modest ence, so you may want to heed their adresearch. Most positions require at least vice as you make important educational a master’s degree, and preference is and career decisions. generally given to those holding a Ph.D. While a research career at a university Research Careers (consisting of research and training) was Students interested in pursuing a reonce considered the “traditional” career search career may find opportunities in path for Ph.D. graduates in the marine academia, industry, government, nonsciences, changes in the academic world profit and non-governmental coupled with funding uncertainties have made this path far less predictable. An increasing number of Ph.D. graduates are working in colleges where teaching is
the focus of the position and research is secondary or minimal. Such settings include four-year colleges, junior colleges and community colleges. A study commissioned by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) found that Ph.D. graduates are finding non-academic jobs more easily than academic research positions. According to the study, that includes jobs in non traditional occupations -- patent law, science policy and administration, the media, investment firms and novel educational settings. Also noted was a growth of employment in medical research industries, including biotechnology, research supplies and pharmaceutical companies. While academia is still the largest employer for Ph.D. recipients, statistics may be misleading. The NAS study identified a recent trend that may be boosting employment figures for graduates: the “post doc” or post doctoral position.
Traditionally, a post doc is the first job taken by a Ph.D. graduate in a research or academic institution. Some graduates find that they have to take back-to-back post doc positions to stay employed. And post docs, once seen as a fall-back job, are getting harder to come by. Thank you to the University of New Hampshire Sea Grant and Marine Careers for the Info provided in this article. http://www.marinecareers.net/ and www. seagrant.unh.edu
Allweld Academy, established in 2007, is a training division that provides the opportunity for learners, with a basic educational backgrounds, to obtain practical welding experience and competency certification in a structured, dynamic, professional working environment ensuring their success in becoming gainfully employed. The Allweld Academy’s scope of (offering) work covers the conducting of welder assessments, welder coding, the qualification of welding procedures and most importantly industryaligned training to get you into any industry like Oil & Gas, Mining – key elements in developing practical welding skills for the work environment. Our Merseta accredited training facility, conveniently located in Maitland, comprises 30 individual training bays and fully equipment 56-seater auditorium for theoretical training. With a ratio of 1:10 students per training instructor and with each student having his own welding bay and using his/her own welding machine to maximize practical training. Courses: We offer high quality practical training and issue certificates of competence from basic welding to advanced Welding. Courses include SMAW, GTAW, GMAW and FCAW across a wide variety of materials including carbon steel, chrome steel, aluminum and stainless steel.
2 Diesel Road, Ndabeni, 7450, Western Cape / Tel: +27 21 511 7473 / E-mail: training@allweld.co.za
Saying NO: Breaking the bullying cycle What is Bullying? Bullying includes behaviours that focus on making someone else feel inadequate, or belittling someone else. Bullying includes harassment, physical harm, repeatedly demeaning speech and efforts to ostracize another person. Bullying is active, and is done with the intention of bringing another person down. There are various kinds of bullying: Physical Bullying: This is the most obvious form of bullying. In this type of bullying, the instigator attempts to physically dominate another teen. This usu-
ally includes kicking, punching and other physically harmful activities, designed to instill fear in the one bullied, and possible coerce him or her to do something. Verbal Bullying: When someone verbally bullies another, he or she uses demeaning language to tear down another’s self-image. Bullies who use verbal techniques excessively tease others, say belittling things and use a great deal of sarcasm with the intent to hurt the other person’s feelings or humiliate the other teen in front of others. Emotional: This is even more subtle than verbal bullying. Teenage bullying
that includes emotional methods aims at getting someone else to feel isolated, alone and may even prompt depression. This type of bullying is designed to get others to ostracize the person being bullied. Cyber Bullying: Electronic bullying is becoming a very real problem for teens. This type of bullying uses instant messaging, cell phone text messages and online social networks to humiliate and embarrass others. This can be especially devastating to the people being bullied, since they cannot even find a safe place in the virtual world. Are you being bullied? There are many things you can do if you’re being bullied. Different strategies can work in different situations. You can try and work it out by yourself. But if the bullying doesn’t stop, you might find it helpful to ask someone else for advice. Don’t be afraid to let someone know that you are being bullied—other people can be a great help. If you are being bullied at school, find a trusted teacher (or past teacher), school psychologist, guidance counsellor, or administrator with whom you can speak. If you are being bullied at work, seek out a supervisor or a human resources manager. Working it out yourself Depending on how bad the bullying is (and as long as you aren’t feeling unsafe, frightened or physically threatened), you could decide to try and work it out by yourself first. Try and remember that no matter how hard you try, the bully might not be willing to change his or her behaviour. At this point, talking to someone else can be really helpful. The following tips might be particularly
helpful if you’re dealing with verbal bullying on your own: When possible, ignore the bully. Ignoring can be helpful, particularly for one-time cases. Bullies are looking for a reaction from you and often lose interest if they aren’t given the satisfaction of making you upset. Suggestions for ignoring the bully: • Walk away when the bully approaches you. Try and imagine that you’re walking away from a friend. This can be a way of making sure your body language (which you’re usually unaware of) doesn’t give away a sense of fear; • Concentrate on something else. Try thinking about what you’ll do next weekend, counting to 100, or planning
your homework; • Have a saying or a statement that you can repeat in your head when the bully approaches you to block out a sense of fear. Build a wall around you. It might be helpful to build an invisible wall around you by visualizing it in your mind. Any verbal abuse then just bounces off the wall.
Be confident Bullies usually pick on people that they think are weaker than they are, so it might help if you stand up to them. Suggestions on how to stand up to a bully:
• Telling him or her to leave you alone may get a bully off your back; • Ever heard of the phrase “kill them with kindness”? Being nice to a Use visualization. bully may throw him or her Bullies can be pretty off; scary. Picturing that per• Using humour can also son looking silly might throw a bully off track; help to make them less • Use positive self-talk. problematic for you. For example, picture Try saying to yourself something like the bully’s head shrinking, or picture the I know I am better than that. I’m not bully in his or her underwear. like that. I don’t have to pick on other people to know that I am good; Stay positive • Remember that your friends accept It can be hard to remember all your you for who you are. good points when someone is doing their best to be negative. Try to think of all the Keep out of a bully’s way things you do well, and remember that It might be possible for you to avoid the you are a valuable person. Thinking of bully. This can mean getting to school in how bad the bully must be feeling can a different way, or avoiding the places also help you stay positive. that you know he or she hangs out. By avoiding a bully, you’re not giving in, but Surround yourself with people who looking after yourself and making sure care about you you are happier and more comfortable. Surrounding yourself with positive people who know and like you for YOU can Asking someone for help boost your confidence. This will help you To stop bullying—whether verbal, written let bullying comments more easily roll off or cyber bullying — it can be helpful to your back. It’s important that you connect tell someone that you are being bullied. with people who genuinely care for you This can seem scary at first, but telling and recognize all of your great qualities. someone can lighten your load and help you to work out how to solve the probHang around other people lem. Talking to someone is particularly You might be safer if you stay in groups. important if you feel unsafe or frightened, If you are alone, try to identify people or if you don’t have many friends. Asking who can offer you safety. for help or talking to someone about your
situation is not being weak or “giving in.” In fact, telling someone can take a lot of strength and courage. There are many people who might be able to help, including friends, older brothers and sisters, teachers, family, counsellors or parents. Teachers and counsellors are specially trained to help you. In the workplace, you could also talk to a human resource manager or union representative. • Identify strategies that work for YOU. There are a number of ways to cope with the sadness, anger, fear, and isolation that can accompany bullying. This can be something as simple as counting to ten or thinking of your favourite, happy memory. It’s important that you identify coping strategies that work for you: think about what makes you happy or • calms you and try to incorporate those things into your life. In the moment, use strategies that help you act appropriately and feel better. It can be a mantra you repeat to yourself or taking calming breaths. In the long term, there are a number of ways we can help ourselves cope with the feelings bullying creates: exercise, watching funny movies, talking • to friends, playing with the family pet… Find something that works for you and if it helps, even make a list of those things so you can remember all of the activities you’ve found helpful. Some tips for getting help • It might be easier if you talk to someone you know well and trust. This person can give you much needed
•
support and might have suggestions for dealing with the situation that you might not have considered. If you decide to talk to a teacher or counsellor, you might feel more comfortable taking a friend with you. If you feel you might get too nervous to speak, write down what you’d like to say on paper or in an e-mail. Don’t feel ashamed about coming forwardteachers and counsellors are there to help. If you think that the person you’re speaking with doesn’t believe you, or isn’t taking you seriously, or if that person doesn’t help you take action, it doesn’t mean that your feelings aren’t valid or that the bullying should continue. It’s important you tell someone else and continue to do so until you get the help you need. Being bullied can be upsetting and stressful, and it can affect your life in many different ways, including your self-esteem, relationships, work and education. If you are feeling particularly overwhelmed, it is important that you seek help from a mental health professional such as a social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist. There is no shame in asking for help. Remember, if you are in any danger of hurting yourself or someone else. It
is vital that you ask for help immediately. Your rights Remember that everyone has the right to live, work, study and play in an environment free from bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence. No one deserves or asks to be bullied.
CAREER FOCUS Metallurgist
Where did you study and what? I studied Metallurgical Engineering at Wits University. Why did you choose your current career path? There is a demand for Metallurgists and there are a number of avenues that can be followed which offer a number of choices of which Welding is just one of the many avenues.Even within the world of welding, there are many different, interesting and exciting avenues to follow.
Sean B
lake
What qualifications do I need? Engineering qualification specialising in welding. Business / commerce qualification is an added advantage.
What challenges have you had to overcome? en Describe your average day at work? Overcoming challenging business enMy current job is certainly quite diverse vironments. Developing cross cultural in nature. Much of the position requires relationships with many challenges. personal management and providing What are your career goals? people with information and advice. To make a difference in the South AfPromoting the exciting advantages of rican socio-economic environment, welding as a career takes up a lot my uplift people as far as possible and to time. show as many people as possible the posi huge opportunities in the welding inDoes the Industry and/or your posidustry in South Africa. tion, face gender bias? Generally welding is dominated by males, however an increasing number Advice for people considering this of females are attracted to welding and career? there is no reason women cannot suc- Grab every opportunity and learn as much as you can about the exciting ceed in this profession. One the and varied careers available in weldInstitute’s past Presidents, Prof Madelaine du Toit has done brilliantly in the ing welding industry.
Carerott, one of the Top 5 Tech-startups in the 2015 Western Cape Telkom Future Makers incubation program, is an online Mentorship community that makes it easy for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to reach for their dreams, by enabling these students to find their way to tertiary education. This is done through connecting ambitious high scholars with tertiary mentors in their desired institutions and fields of study, and granting both stakeholders easy access to industry, meaning; online access to entry requirements and applications for different tertiary institutions, financial aid, bursaries and vacancies.
THOUSANDS of students in the townships and rural areas of
South Africa are faced with a MAJOR CHALLENGE which if not addressed, resulting in them GIVING UP ON THEIR DREAMS. Carerott provides access to simple yet critical information such as entry requirements, access to application forms and financial aid.
Register at http://www.carerott.com/
Lifeguarding in South Africa is considered a scarce skill and there is a great need for skilled, qualiied lifeguards. The profession has grown enormously in recent years. South Africa has one of the most stunning coast lines and many recreational water parks which are visited by millions of people each year. These draw cards are made safe by the presence of lifeguards all year round. Li Lifeguarding appears to be a very glamorous occupation but it requires a lot of passion and a commitment to maintain high standards with annual tness and learning updates. There are two options to become a lifeguard: 1. A Certiicate in Lifeguarding: A one year course culminating in the SAQA Accredited FET Certiicate in Lifeguarding 61905 NQF4. Training based in Durban at present. Contact the General Manager for further information: generalmanager@lifesaving.co.za 2. Short Skills Programs through volunteer clubs: Western Cape has 28 clubs spread across the province with over 2800 members. Clubs train lifeguards with practical experience through volunteer service and sport participation.
MeerKAT joins the ranks of the world’s great scientific instruments through its First Light image The MeerKAT First Light image of the sky, released by Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor on 16 July 2016, shows unambiguously that MeerKAT is already the best radio telescope of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Array Release 1 (AR1) provides 16 of an eventual 64 dishes integrated into a working telescope array. It is the first significant scientific milestone achieved by MeerKAT, the radio telescope under construction in the Karoo that will eventually be integrated into the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). In a small patch of sky covering less than 0.01 percent of the entire celestial sphere, the MeerKAT First Light image shows more than 1300 galaxies in the distant Universe, compared to 70 known in this location prior to MeerKAT. “Based on the results being shown today, we are confident that after all 64 dishes are in place, MeerKAT will be the world’s leading telescope of its kind until the advent of SKA,” according to Professor Justin Jonas, SKA South Africa Chief Technologist. MeerKAT will consist of 64 receptors, each comprising a 13.5-metre diametre dish antenna, cryogenic coolers, receivers, digitiser, and other electronics. The commissioning of
MeerKAT is done in phases to allow for verification of the system, early resolution of any technical issues, and initial science exploitation. Early science can be done with parts of the array as they are commissioned, even as construction continues. AR1 consists of 16 receptors, AR2 of 32 and AR3 of 64, expected to be in place by late 2017. Dr Rob Adam, Managing Director of SKA South Africa, says: “The launch of MeerKAT AR1 and its first results is a significant milestone for South Africa. Through MeerKAT, South Africa is playing a key role in the design and development of technology for the SKA. The South African team of more than 200 young scientists, engineers and technicians, in collaboration with industry, local and foreign universities and institutions, has developed the technologies and systems for MeerKAT. These include cutting edge telescope antennas and receivers, signal processing, timing, telescope management, computing and data storage systems, and algorithms for data processing.” In May 2016, more than 150 researchers and students, two-thirds from South Africa, met in Stellenbosch to discuss and update the MeerKAT science programme. This will consist of already approved “large survey
CAREER FOCUS
Head of Marketing and Communications
Peter K
wele
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is an agency of the Department of Arts and Culture that was created to ensure the equitable growth of South Africa's film and video industry. We do this by providing funding for the development, production, marketing and distribution of films and also the training and development of filmmakers.
The NFVF has placed 80 interns, funded 141 local bursaries with 100% tuition in South Africa and 5 international bursaries to study film in 2016.
Some of the most mentioned scarce skills include: ¥ Producers ¥ Editors ¥ Camera operators and DoPs ¥ Sound engineers ¥ Writers ¥ Lighting skills and engineers ¥ Animators ¥ Film accounting ¥ Data wranglers
DID YOU KNOW?
The industry has been forecast to grow extensively over the next few years, and the value of television advertising and online television advertising could increase to R40,9 billion in 2019.
Box office figures are showing steady growth and will be worth a forecast R972 million in 2019, increasing from R839 million in 2014. - PWC 2016
Source: NFVF Skills Audit 2016 [www.nfvf.co.za] PWC [www.pwc.co.za]
For more information visit our website or email us on info@nfvf.co.za National Film and Video Foundation Tel: +27 11 483 0880
National Film and Video Foundation
@nfvfsa
www.nfvf.co.za
10
Tips for healthy eating during exams When you’re studying for finals, good nutrition often slides way down on the priority list. It’s easy to get into the habit of glugging coffee and gobbling take-out pizza, because you don’t want to waste time on food preparation. But, actually, good nutrition should be part of your study plan because it’s going to help you ace those tests. The better the fuel your brain gets, the better you’ll study. It’s a… well…no-brainer. Here are 10 tips for eating right during exams: 1. How do I eat smarter? Meeting daily vitamin and mineral requirements will make doing your best much easier. Iron and B vitamins are especially important to maintaining the physical and mental energy necessary to study well. Ironcontaining foods include red meat, cereals and spinach; one good meal idea is chili because it contains ground beef and kidney beans. Foods that contain B vita-
mins include whole-grains, wheat germ, eggs and nuts. Fish and soy are other foods that are said to help boost your brain by providing the nutrients it needs. 2. Dude, chewable Vitamin C is not a meal. Dietary supplements are good, but real food is better. An orange contains not only Vitamin C, but also fiber, beta carotene and other minerals — so it can’t be replaced by a pill. When you’re heading for the library, pack whole-food items like apples, bananas, clementine’s, carrot sticks or dried apricots. 3. Eat at regular intervals. Eating regular meals helps keep nutrient and energy levels more stable, curbing the temptation of empty-calorie snacks in the vending machine. 4. Big meals keep on turning … in your stomach. You might find that eating the standard three-big-meals-a-day slows
you down mentally and physically. Consider 5 or 6 well-balanced, smaller meals, like toast spread with peanut butter, hummus or tuna, or a piece of cheese with fruit.
sugar level stable. Some smart snack examples are banana with peanut butter, a small baked potato with cottage cheese, or an English muffin pizza.
9. Gather simple recipes for nourishing 5. Meet breakfast, your new study buddy. foods. It’s easy to feed the brain well. While much is said about the reasons to No-fuss recipes let you eat to succeed, eat breakfast, less known are the best without taking too much time. Here are ways to eat smart in the morning. Coffee four ideas: and a donut just don’t cut it. The idea is to get some protein, calcium, fibre and a • Combine scrambled eggs with toast, piece of fruit or a vegetable in there. So, cheese or salsa. a bowl of cereal with milk and a piece of • Spend 15 minutes preparing chili and fruit would do the trick. Or try a cereal continue studying while it simmers for bar with milk. We have some additional two hours. quick breakfast ideas for you to enjoy! • Go Tex Mex with quesadillas, adding whatever veggies you’ve got on hand. 6. Going bananas? Good. Fruit ranks • A little chopping is all it takes to conhigh among the best foods you can eat struct a hearty Chef’s Salad. for your brain. Blueberries (which can be • bought frozen in bags) get a lot of atten- 10. Stay well hydrated. Choose your bevtion because they contain powerful anti- erages well, though. Caffeine and sugar oxidants and other nutrients. The natural should be kept to a minimum. Since too sugars in fruit offer clean energy, so you much caffeine can make you jittery, try don’t experience the crash that follows to drink moderate amounts: 400 to 450 consumption of refined sugar. mg per day, the equivalent of 2/2.5 cups, (16 to 20 ounces or 500 to 625 ml). Bet7. Choose powerful vegetables. Not ter choices include water, fruit juice, milk, all vegetables are created equal. The and anti-oxidant-rich green tea. darker the color, the higher the concentration of nutrients. For example, spinach has more to offer the mind and body than iceberg lettuce. Other great vegetable choices include bell peppers, broccoli and sweet potatoes. 8. Smart snacking can enhance studying. Snack smart while studying and you may find that you retain more. Try to get two food groups into your snacks to balance the nutrients and keep your blood-
CAREER FOCUS ESL Teacher
Kailim J
ames Riri
e
Tshwane South TVET College
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Photo by: Josiah Mackenzie
UP FOR A RUN? Going out for a quick, daily run may be just as effective as a long-distance jaunt when it comes to prolonging your life, said a study. Running as little as five to ten minutes per day can significantly cut the risks of getting heart disease and dying young, said the findings in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. People who exercised by running showed a 30 percent lower risk of death and a 45 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than people who did not run at all. Runners could be expected to live about three years longer on average than nonrunners. Even more, the benefits of running were the same whether people ran a little or a lot, fast or slow. There was no statistically significant difference among those who ran 50 minutes per week and those who ran 180 minutes per week, it found. Nor did it matter if the running was hap-
pening at a pace of less than 10km/h. Even these minimal runners and slow joggers fared far better than people who did not run at all. “Since time is one of the strongest barriers to participate in physical activity, the study may motivate more people to start running,” said lead author Duck-chul Lee, an assistant professor in the Iowa State University Kinesiology Department. The study was based on more than 55 000 adults – average age 44 – in Texas who were followed for 15 years. Most were white; about one quarter of those in the study were women. For the analysis, researchers broke the participants into six groups: non-runners and five groups of runners according to weekly running time, distance, frequency and speed.
“Even the lowest quintiles of weekly running distance (six miles or less), frequency (one to two times)… and speed (less than 6mph) had significantly lower risks of all-cause mortality compared with not running,” the study said. “Similar trends were observed with the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality.” Studies have shown that globally, between 40 percent and 80 percent of the public does not exercise enough. US health authorities recommend 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise, or 150 minutes (a half hour a day, five days a week) of moderate-intensity exercise. “Although such low compliance with physical activity guidelines could be due to unawareness of the strong benefits of exercise, it is also possible that the standard is perceived as being too high, which could deter many people from even trying,” said an accompanying editorial. “Instead, establishing goals that can be attained with minimal effort becomes important.” Researchers also found that when comparing running to walking, a five-minute run brought the same health benefits as a 15-minute walk. A previous study in The Lancet in 2011 showed that brisk walking for 15 minutes a day – half the recommended time amount – could also add three years to a person’s life. – Sapa-AFP
CAREER FOCUS Founder & Managing Director at Paper Plane
Stuart A
llan van d
er Veen
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANCY MORE THAN JUST NUMBER CRUNCHING ‘Boring, conservative men in grey suits who are obsessed with numbers and have a fancy car parked in the garage…’ If this is what you think being a Chartered Accountant (CA[SA]) is all about, think again. CAs(SA) are so much more than just number crunchers. Companies rely on CAs(SA)’s disciplined, insightful approach to business, and their strong analytical skills, to make business decisions that help their companies grow. In fact, 74% of the JSE’s Top 200 company chief financial officers (CFOs) and almost a third of the JSE’s top 40 CEOs are CAs(SA)! Small wonder then that CAs(SA) are highly sought-after professionals who quickly rise to the top of their fields. And yes, Chartered Accountancy – even at the most junior levels – is among the top five highest earning careers in South Africa. But being a CA(SA) isn’t just about money and status.
But what exactly does a CA(SA) do? As the name suggests, CAs(SA) ‘account for’ or explain financial transactions. This means you have to be good with numbers, as you’ll spend your day documenting, describing and explaining where money has come from and gone to, working out how well a company is doing, and helping them plan for their future successes. This is just the start — CAs(SA) are a company’s one-stop guide to a successful business. They are highly valuable assets who are knowledgeable in a wide range of essential business aspects — including auditing, mergers and acquisitions, taxation, risk assessment, and management in general. This is why you will find CAs(SA) working in all fields of business, and in various contexts – from public practice to the private sector, as well as government institutions.
The CA(SA) qualification gives you control of your future! As a CA(SA), your qualification gives you such in-depth insight into how business works that, no matter the context, you can be successful in any field – from finance to medicine, media, sport, science, you name it – anywhere in the world! You could even start your own company and be your own boss.
So, how do you become a CA(SA)? The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) has created a roadmap with all the steps to becoming a CA(SA) – available for you at www.nowiCAn.co.za. Use these steps as a checklist to monitor your journey to becoming a CA(SA).
For more information about becoming a CA(SA), visit www.nowiCAn.co.za or download the CA in my pocket app (available on Android and Apple) today.
www.nowiCAn.co.za www.nowiCAn.mobi
For more info visit : www.saica.co.za/LearnerStudents
CAREER FOCUS Electronics and Telecommunications Trainee
Asavela
Sigonya
The»South»African»MeerKAT»radio» telescope,»currently»being»built» some»90»km»north-west»of»the»small» Northern»Cape»town»of»Carnarvon,»is» a»precursor»to»the»Square»Kilometre» Array»(SKA)»telescope»and»will»be» integrated»into»the»mid-frequency» component»of»SKA»Phase»1.»The» SKA»Project»is»an»international» enterprise»to»build»the»largest»and» most»sensitive»radio»telescope»in»the» world,»and»will»be»located»in»Africa» and»Australia.
SOUTH AFRICA’S MeerKAT RADIO TELESCOPE
March 2014 First antenna installed
QUOTATION
TIMELINE FOR MeerKAT CONSTRUCTION June 2016
End 2017
16 antenna array ready
64 antenna array ready to do science
LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MeerKAT Stratosat Datacom (Pty) Ltd, the contractor for the design, manufacturing and acceptance of the MeerKAT Antenna Positioner, leads a technology consortium including international partners General Dynamics Satcom (GDSatcom, USA) and Vertex Antennentechnik (Germany). At least 75% of the contract value will be spent in South Africa resulting in most of the MeerKAT antenna components being manufactured in South Africa. Key local suppliers include Efficient Engineering (pedestals and yokes); Titanus slew Rings (azimuth bearing), Tricom Structures and Namaqua Engineering (back-up structure), Westarcor Engineering Profiling (receiver indexer); and Stratosat (reflectors). MeerKAT’s MAKE-UP
»» The
MeerKAT telescope will be an array of 64 interlinked receptors (a receptor is the complete antenna structure, with the main reflector, sub-reflector and all receivers, digitisers and other electronics installed).
»» The configuration (placement) of the receptors is determined by the science objectives of the telescope.
»» 48 of the receptors are concentrated in the core area which is approximately 1 km in diameter.
»» The longest distance between any two receptors (the so-called maximum baseline) is 8 km.
»» Each MeerKAT receptor consists of three main components:
1. The antenna positioner, which is a steerable dish on a pedestal; 2. A set of radio receivers; 3. A set of associated digitisers.
CONTACT US: SKA SA, 3rd Floor, The Park, Park Road Pinelands, Cape Town, 7405 Tel: +27 (0) 21 506-7300 www.ska.ac.za
»» The antenna positioner is made up of the 13.5 m effective diameter main reflector, and a 3.8 m diameter sub-reflector. In this design, referred to as an ‘Offset Gregorian’ optical layout, there are no struts in the way to block or interrupt incoming electromagnetic signals. This ensures excellent optical performance, sensitivity and imaging quality, as well as good rejection of unwanted radio frequency interference from orbiting satellites and terrestrial radio transmitters. It also enables the installation of multiple receiver systems in the primary and secondary focal areas, and provides a number of other operational advantages.
»» The combined surface accuracy of the two reflectors is extremely high with a deviation from the ideal shape being no more than 0.6 mm RMS (root mean square). The main reflector surface is made up of 40 aluminium panels mounted on a steel support framework.
»» This framework is mounted on top of a yoke, which is in turn
mounted on top of a pedestal. The combined height of the pedestal and yoke is just over 8 m. The height of the total structure is 19.5 m, and it weighs 42 tons.
»» The pedestal houses the antenna’s pointing control system. »» Mounted at the top of the pedestal, beneath the yoke, are an
azimuth drive and a geared azimuth bearing, which allow the main and sub-reflectors, together with the receiver indexer, to be rotated horizontally. The yoke houses the azimuth wrap, which guides all the cables when the antenna is rotated, and prevents them from becoming entangled or damaged. The structure allows an observation elevation range from 15 to 88 degrees, and an azimuth range from -185 degrees to +275 degrees, where north is at zero degrees.
»» The steerable antenna positioner can point the main reflector
very accurately, to within 5 arcseconds (1.4 thousandths of a degree) under low-wind and night-time observing conditions, and to within 25 arcseconds (7 thousandths of a degree) during normal operational conditions.
BIG DATA SKA SA partners with higher education and industry for the development of professionals in Big Data Sol Plaatje University in the Northern Cape has introduced a Bachelor of Science degree in Data Science in the School of Natural and Applied Sciences. Square Kilometre Array South Africa (SKA SA) supports this initiative since it speaks to SKA SA’s Big Data Africa initiative. This initiative aims to tackle a range of big data challenges and to develop skills in big data on a large scale as part of an Africa wide, multi-disciplinary programme that brings together universities, governments and industry.
SKA SA recognises the need for data scientists not only within large science projects but also within the general South African economy and world-wide. The SKA will need data scientists to manage, analyse and distribute the huge volumes of data expected from the telescope itself - data collected by the SKA in a single day would take nearly two million years to playback on an iPod!
SKA SA is therefore expected to be a global leader in data science as we enter the data revolution era with an even larger demand for data scientists across various sectors of industry. “In future, Big Data will form such an integral component of many technologies and data driven activities will play a major role in economic effectiveness, research and Focused on the MeerKAT and SKA, policy making,” says Dr Jasper Horrell, a range of projects within SKA SA are science processing sub-system manager underway in fields of high performance and power efficient computing, advanced on the SKA MeerKAT project. algorithms, artificial intelligence and data The three-year Bachelor of Science devisualisation, to name a few. gree in Data Science at Sol Plaatje Uni-
versity has a strong mathematics core and focuses on data science and applications thereof.
Microsoft, Capitec Bank, amongst others to host the first ever Big Data Careers event in South Africa last year.
The degree is designed to develop highly skilled graduates in areas in which there are considerable shortages across the country.
The event showcased the ever increasing role of data scientists in global research projects such as the SKA, as well as their future need within industry and the financial sectors.
Data Science focuses on finding solutions to solving the “big data” problems. This qualification addresses the need for predictive models in diverse disciplines such as clinical research, intelligence, consumer behaviour and risk management continues unabated. It also addresses the critical skills shortage in the country and will provide access to students to an advanced area of study in a critical contemporary discipline. In a bid to drive interest in this field of study, SKA SA joined forces with a number of industry partners that includes Tracker Connect Pty Ltd, IBM, Oracle,
Dr Bonita de Swardt, project officer of strategic partnerships for human capital development at the SKA SA, explains that the initial idea of hosting such an event came through an initial partnership between the SKA SA and the Banking Sector Education and Training Authority (BANKSETA). Through this partnership 25 first year data science students from the Sol Plaatje University in the Northern Cape were funded to participate in this event. Through this event the students were exposed to vibrant presentations by
Welding – the miracle career There is no better career choice for a young man or woman than welding. It offers a wide variety of activities from inspection to administration through to actual welding in a host of different applications. And most importantly, with a welding qualification, you’re certain to get a job. So, see below for a list of our many courses and contact us for more information on how to bring a miracle into your life.
Courses offered by the SAIW Welding Quality Control; Welding Inspection; Welding Coordination; Codes of Construction; Heat Treatment; Competent Persons; Welding Symbols; Welding Metallurgy and Failure Analysis; Practical Welding; Non-Destructive Testing – Visual Testing, Magnetic Testing, Penetrant Testing, Eddy Current Testing, Radiographic Testing, Ultrasonic Testing. For further details refer to the Course Prospectus on our website.
Oil and Gas Industry
Refineries
JOHANNESBURG (HEAD OFFICE) Tel: +27 (0)11 298 2100 CAPE TOWN Tel: +27 (0)21 555 2535 DURBAN Tel: 087 351 6568
www.saiw.co.za
Inspection and Control
Automotive Industry
SAIW Southern African Institute of Welding
Railway Industry
Construction Industry
Career Focus National Sales and Technical Manager @Turf-Ag Products
Andre Coe
tzee
What is SACNASP?
SACNASP’s main objectives are to:
SACNASP is the legislated regulatory body for natural science practitioners in South Africa.
•
The natural sciences encompass a wide range of scientific fields covering all of the basic sciences and many of their applied derivatives.
• •
Our mission is to establish, direct, sustain and ensure a high level of professionalism and ethical conscience among our scientists.
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Their conduct should be internationally acceptable and in the broad interest of the community as outlined in the SACNASP Code of Conduct.
•
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Promote the practice of the natural science professions in South Africa. Ensure and administer the mandatory registration of natural scientists as required in terms of The Natural Scientific Professions Act of 2003. Exercise control over the standard of conduct of professional natural scientists. Monitor the standard of education and training of natural scientists. Set standards for the recognition of education and training natural scientists. Ensure that prospective registrants meet the educational standards required for registration.
Register to be recognised
Contact us
The Natural Scientific Professions Act of 2003 requires all Natural Scientific Practitioners in SA to be registered with SACNASP.
Physical Address: Suite L4, Innovation Hub, Enterprise Building, Innovation Drive, 0087, Pretoria Postal Address: Private Bag X540, Silverton 0127 Tel: +27 (12) 841 1075 Fax: 086 206 0427 Email: sacnasp@sacnasp.org.za Website: www.sacnasp.org.za
For a complete list of the current fields of practice recognised by SACNASP, visit our website at www.sacnasp.org.za www.facebook.com/SACNASP
CAREER FOCUS Lecturer
Sumaya
h Nabee
Start your career in
Hairdressing with SERWALO www.serwalo.co.za | admin@serwalo.co.za
012 342 0508