Spotong Issue 33

VUMA FIBRE COMES TO SOWETO 18

GET COVID-19 FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR YOUR SME 13

ESSENTIAL FINANCIAL GUIDELINES 50

Issue 33

YOUR LOCKDOWN GUIDE! CO EX VID PL -1 AIN 9 ED

10

43

MEDICAL, INSURANCE OR GAP COVER?

GOOD DEBT VS BAD DEBT

53

20 www.spotongmag.co.za @SpotongMagazine |

46

@SpotongMagazine

BRAND NEW BEVERAGES

34

Spotong is proudly endorsed by:

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

In this Issue

E T O N S ’ R O T EDI

T

he global outbreak of Covid-19 has steered our lives into unchartered territory. The pandemic has caused massive disruptions in the workplace and caused considerable inconvenience to our everyday lives.

Covid-19 is a threat which doesn’t distinguish between young and old, rich or poor or race and religion. It affects us all!

Social media is rife with misinformation on Covid-19 and is damaging in our fight against the pandemic. In our main feature, we bring you all you need to know about Covid-19 so you can protect yourself and others around you by knowing the facts and taking the appropriate precautions.

In our finance feature, we show you how to get much-needed financial relief for your SME. A number of private and state entities have set up relief funding schemes to support small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. We have done the research for you so check out the list of relief programmes and initiatives that you can take advantage of to help you stay afloat. You can also be proactive and make use of the essential guidelines issued by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) to assist South Africans to take greater charge of their finances and be responsible when making financial decisions that will impact their lives during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kabili follows the decade-long success of the SAB Zenzele scheme, which has delivered R14billion in value for its beneficiaries, including SAB Zenzele’s 29 000 retailer shareholders, 13 000 current and former SAB employees and the SAB Foundation. This is the largest broad-based BEE transaction in the South African fast-moving consumer goods industry. The SAB Zenzele Kabili scheme will replace and build on the success of SAB Zenzele with the intention of generating value for existing and new BEE investors.

6

NTHA: The effect of COVID-19 on liquor business GLF supports government interventions

10

13

13 Looking for financial relief for your SME? 16 Home schooling is a family affair under lockdown 18 Vuma fibre reach brings affordable, reliable fibre

EDITOR

22 Do you have a valid will?

23 ITHALA helps enhance the township economy

24

INDUSTRY NEWS 24 Hot Off the Press

NEW PRODUCT REVIEWS 28 New on the shelf Find us on:

30 Essential retail stock

facebook.com/ SpotongMagazine

32

Twitter @SpotongMagazine

MANAGING DIRECTOR AND PUBLISHER Donna Verrydt

PROOFING & SUB EDITING CONTACT

SALES

Margot Bertelsmann

info@spotongmag.co.za

PUBLISHING HOUSE

34 Brand new beverages

CEO & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Sean Press

HOSPITALITY 36 Tavern Reviews: At your Service

CTP Printers, Cape Town

39 Essential Liquor Stock

Lesley Fox

Candy Mukwa Quincy Matonhodze Witness Dambanjera

LIQUOR SEGMENT 32 Our local brands come out tops

REPRO & PRINTING

40

PROUDLY ENDORSED BY:

PERSONAL AND LIFESTYLE 40 One pot, one pan, one dish!

42 Four ways with tomatoes

DESIGN & LAYOUT

Contact Media & Communications 348 Republic Road, Darrenwood Tel: +27(0) 11 789 6339 Fax: +27(0) 11 789 7097 email: pressman@contactmedia.co.za web: www.contactmedia.co.za

RETAIL SEGMENT

26 The Tavern Tatler

FINANCE AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Charlene Heyburgh

internet to soweto

20 Medical aid, health insurance or GAP cover?

36 Jenna Berndt

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT GENERAL MANAGEMENT ISSUES

And of course, we bring you the latest industry news to keep you up-to-date, new retail and liquor products for your shelves, recipes to try at home during the lockdown and much, much more.

In our Tavern Tatler feature, we take a look at South African Breweries and their announcement of the creation of its new R5.4-billion broad-based BEE ownership scheme, SAB Zenzele Kabili. SAB Zenzele

CONTRIBUTORS

MAIN FEATURE COVID-19 explained

Some good news for township traders - fibre has finally reached the townships. Vuma Fibre Reach has brought fibre to Soweto and the township’s residents can now access affordable, reliable, fast internet in the safety and comfort of their homes.

Spotong will always be committed to bringing township traders the news, resources and advice that they need. We welcome your views and feedback so drop us an e-mail on info@spotongmag.co.za.

COLUMNS

Janine Louw

44 Warm up your winter

PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR

46 Cocktail concoctions

Melanie Scheepers

IT AND WEB MANAGER Carmen Petre

www.spotongmag.co.za

48 NuPay makes microfinance a breeze 50 Essential financial guidelines to assist

Copyright © 2020 Contact Media & Communications. Spotong is published by Contact Media & Communications. All material is strictly copyright with all rights reserved. No material may be reproduced in part or whole without the express written permission of the publisher. No responsibility will be accepted for unsolicited material. The publisher accepts no liability of whatsoever nature arising out of or in connection with the contents of this publication.

Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication, the publisher does not give any warranty as to the completeness or accuracy of its contents. The views and opinions expressed in Spotong are not necessarily those of the Publisher or contributors.

South African consumers

51 The CIPC’s new compliance checklist 52 Strengthen your defence against COVID-19!

53 Good debt vs Bad debt

6

COLUMNS: NTHA

www.spotongmag.co.za

It is understandable that this pandemic requires extreme measures to curb the disease. This is the reason that the Gauteng Liquor Forum supported the lockdown.

The Gauteng Liquor Forum was also concerned about the impact of closures on shebeens and taverns. The forum appealed to all of its members and all liquor traders in South Africa to adhere to all measures announced by the government during the lockdown.

The Gauteng Liquor Forum also appealed to the government and financial sectors to support liquor traders during the lockdown.

It is understandable that this pandemic requires extreme measures to curb the disease. This is the reason that the Gauteng Liquor Forum supported the lockdown.

O

n 18 March 2020, the government issued regulations drastically altering the operating hours of liquor sales in bars, clubs, shebeens, taverns and restaurants.

They were all limited to operate from 9am to 6pm on weekdays and Saturdays and from 9am to 1pm on Sundays and public holidays.

THE EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON LIQUOR BUSINESSES

Many shebeen and tavern owners in the townships were affected by a huge loss in income. Their employees were also directly affected.

The government then decided to enforce a nationwide lockdown for 21 days, effective from midnight 27 March until 16 April, which was further extended until 1 May. On 26 March, the Gauteng Liquor Forum fully supported government measures to prevent the further spread of Covid-19 and welcomed the lockdown as the number of infections was growing. The Gauteng Liquor Forum issued a media statement in this regard.

Liquor was not announced as essential as other food and beverage products. The liquor forums viewed this as harsh, given the fact that other countries had made liquor essential. When the government announced relief funding, the shebeens were not mentioned. Shebeens are not formalised, therefore it would be difficult to register them as formal businesses. The Gauteng Liquor Forum opted for legal advice on this matter and letters were sent to the President requesting a relaxation of lockdown regulations to allow the selling of take-aways and people to consume alcohol at their homes.

The government failed to hear the cries of liquor traders and failed to respond positively. Is it because alcohol consumption in this country is perceived to be the cause of bad behaviour?

But human behaviour has got nothing to do with alcohol! Sober-minded people can also behave strangely and one can never know what the cause of that is.

In this country, alcohol consumption is a legal activity, therefore everyone has an equal right to trade in liquor. The government should assist in formalising and transforming the liquor industry so that everyone is well looked after.

In God’s name we pray for all those affected by this pandemic.

Phumzile Ratladi, NTHA Secretary

Issue 31

MAIN FEATURE

7

8

COLUMNS: GLF

www.spotongmag.co.za

The meeting took place after several reminders to the Department of Economic Development and The Office of the Premier about this commitment. The latter assisted us by informing the incumbent MEC, Morakane Mosupye, that her predecessor had made a commitment to host a Liquor Traders Indaba where factors surrounding the industry would be discussed.

On 6 March 2020, the meeting between the Gauteng Liquor Traders Association, Office of the Premier and the Department of Economic Development took place at the Department of Economic Development’s Umnotho House.

Due to a communication breakdown and trust deficit between the Department of Economic Development and The Liquor Traders Associations, we requested the Office of the Premier to intervene and preside over these meetings. Margaret Tleane chaired the meeting and the MEC could sense the strained relations between the Liquor Board and Liquor Traders.

GAUTENG LIQUOR FORUM SUPPORTS GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS We are scared for our future but ready to collectively flatten the curve

W

e are experiencing dramatic changes in our lifetime.

Something that we never anticipated is happening before our eyes. You never know what the future holds for you.

Let me start from where we left off in our engagement with the powers that be in the liquor industry. As I mentioned before in Spotong, the chopping and changing of MECs, directors and staff at the Department of Economic Development in Gauteng adversely affects service delivery.

The meeting that was supposed to take place last year has finally happened. Former MEC Kgosientso Ramokgopa had made a commitment to address the memorandum of demands tabled by liquor trader associations.

Ms Tleane expressed appreciation to the MEC for attaching value to this meeting as she attended with her Head of Department. Thereafter, we were requested to make a presentation of demands in the memorandum submitted to government.

The MEC ordered the chief director of the Gauteng Liquor Board, Raymond Martin, to present the response by the Department of Economic Development. This is a response that we have been demanding for months, only to be told in this meeting that they withheld the response out of fear that we might use it against them in court.

The report says permit holders must apply for licenses!

The MEC, after hearing the presentation from Liquor Traders and the response from the Liquor Board, posed a question to the associations on whether they wanted to be regulated and the response was a resounding yes! She stated that it is not in the best interest of government to stand against small businesses, but, without regulation, the industry does not benefit from government programmes as they are employers whose employees cannot be accounted for and that there are programmes to support traders as they employ two or more people. She further said that shebeens must be supported to grow to a point of having a partnership with breweries in South Africa.

The MEC urged the associations to stay out of court and work together with the department to find an amicable solution.

She indicated that they engaged with the Yeoville Ratepayers Association and they

seemed to understand that such matters can be resolved by working together. The Department has 15 000 permit holders.

The associations should indicate how many are outside those 15 000.

In closing and in relation to police raiding, the MEC committed to have a meeting with the MEC of Safety to ask for a moratorium on 15 000 liquor traders who are permit holders.

The Global Pandemic Covid-19 emerged during December 2019 and was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation soon after. On 18 March 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a National State of Disaster and the regulations issued in terms of Section 27 (2) of the Disaster Management Act 2002 prevent the escalation of disaster.

The liquor trade is the most affected business in this time of crisis as limitations on the sale of alcohol compelled all premises selling liquor to be closed immediately. Nasasa issued a statement on measures to prevent Covid-19 transmission and advised groups to seek alternative group communication mechanisms and encouraged the prudent use of available mobile or digital platforms.

A media release from the Eastern Cape Liquor Forum on Covid-19 regulations stated that these regulations were going to destroy black-owned taverns in townships.

The government has not yet consulted with township businesses and tavern owners, according to Winston Hector, president of the Eastern Cape Liquor Forum.

The Gauteng Liquor Forum supported government Covid-19 interventions but we are concerned for township businesses and we appeal to the government and financial sector to support liquor traders during this unprecedented time of crisis. We also appeal to our members and all liquor traders in South Africa to comply with all measures to curb the spread of the virus.

We don’t know what the future holds for us. The number of infections and the death toll is growing. There might be another total lockdown if the situation gets worse.

We urge everyone to apply their minds to a collective effort to flatten the curve.

Musa Ntshangase, GLF General Secretary

Issue 31

MAIN FEATURE

9

10

MAIN FEATURE

www.spotongmag.co.za

COVID-19 EXPLAINED Protect yourself and others around you by knowing the facts and taking appropriate precautions

What is Covid-19?

What are the symptoms?

Covid-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars). Covid-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus, and the disease it causes, were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

The most common symptoms of Covid-19 are fever, tiredness, and a dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but do not develop any symptoms and do not feel unwell. Most people (about 80 per cent) recover from the disease without needing special treatment and can recover at home. Around one out of every six people who get Covid-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems such as high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. About two per cent of people with the disease have died.

How does it spread?

People can catch this new coronavirus from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, which are spread when a person with Covid-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person.

Other people then catch Covid-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch Covid-19 if they breathe in droplets from an infected person who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay away from a person who is sick.

How is Covid-19 treated?

Treatment is supportive (providing oxygen for patients with shortness of breath or treating a fever, for example). To date, there is no specific antiviral treatment available. Antibiotics do not treat viral infections. However, antibiotics may be required if a bacterial secondary infection develops.

MAIN FEATURE

Issue 33

11

Practise social distancing

How can you prevent infection?

• Wear a mask. From 1 May, when lockdown restrictions ease, it will be mandatory for all South Africans to wear a cloth face mask when out in public. You will need to have your nose and mouth covered each time you leave your home. If you do not have a mask, you can use a scarf or T-shirt.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based sanitisers containing at least 70% alcohol.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Maintain a safe distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

• Stay at home when you are sick and try and keep a distance from others at home.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a flexed elbow or a tissue, then throw the tissue in the bin.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

• Sanitise all items brought in from outside your home.

The term “social distancing” means to keep your distance from others. This includes avoiding public spaces such as malls and social events as well as recreational areas where others usually gather. One needs to avoid handshakes, hugs and other forms of direct contact as well as keeping a distance of at least two metres from others. In the battle against the highly infectious Covid-19 virus, social distancing is extremely important to help curb the spread of this disease across the country. Social distancing is essential in flattening the curve. A flattened curve is indicated by the number of infected people dropping.

Testing and screening 10 000 community health care workers, with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) are currently deployed across the country for door-to-door household screening and to refer symptomatic people to clinics for testing.

Screening is a way for health workers to find out if you may have Covid-19 or not. The health worker will ask you questions and scan your forehead to take your temperature. You must be honest when you answer the questions to make sure you get the right help. Testing refers to taking a sample from the nose or throat with a cotton swab and testing it in a laboratory.

12

MAIN FEATURE

www.spotongmag.co.za

What is the difference between quarantine and isolation?

• Ask your healthcare professional to inform the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).

Quarantine

• Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home. If you can, use a separate bathroom.

Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to Covid-19 away from others.

Someone in self-quarantine stays separated from others, and they limit movement outside of their home or current place of residence. A person may have been exposed to the virus without knowing it (for example, when travelling or out in the community), or they could have the virus without having symptoms. Quarantine helps limit the further spread of Covid-19.

Isolation Isolation is used to separate sick people from healthy people. People who are in isolation should stay home. In the home, anyone sick should separate themselves from others by staying in a specific “sick” bedroom or space and using a different bathroom (if possible).

Quarantine and isolation practices • Stay home and only go out if you need medical care. Monitor your symptoms for fever, cough, shortness of breath and get medical attention as soon as possible if you become ill.

• If you become ill, call your healthcare facility and tell them that you have, or are being evaluated for, Covid-19 and put on a face mask before you enter the healthcare facility.

• Face masks should be used to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. Cough or sneeze into the fold of your elbow. Alternatively, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

• Clean your hands often. With soap and water for at least 20 seconds or with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Clean surfaces like counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables every day.

While most South Africans will be quarantined in their homes, others can be placed in communitybased facilities for their quarantine period. This practice would extend to those who are believed to have been in contact with a Covid-19 infected person and can be extended to a wider community, depending how many people were in contact with the infected person.

The quarantine and self-isolation period is 14 days from the time a person was possibly exposed to the virus. South Africans can curb the spread by separating people who may have had contact with infected people from the rest of the community.

While in quarantine, people will be closely monitored for any signs of Covid-19 symptoms.

For South Africans who have tested positive for Covid-19 or are living with someone who has a confirmed case of the virus, quarantine and/or isolation are absolutely necessary.

Useful contacts: • If you think you have been exposed to the Covid-19 virus, call the government’s 24-hour hotline on 0800 029 999 • Covid-19 Whatsapp Number: 0600 123456 Step 1: Save the number to your contacts on your cellphone Step 2: Send the word “Hi’ to connect and start chatting.

Download the App: The Mpilo App is linked to the Gauteng Department of Health digital platforms and ensures that users have access to credible and verified information on Covid-19 0r visit the following websites to stay up-to-date on COVID-19 news: https://www.nicd.ac.za/ https://www.gov.za/ https://www.sacoronavirus.co.za/ https://www.gov.za/coronavirus/ guidelines

COVID-19 ASSISTANCE

Issue 33

13

LOOKING FOR

FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR YOUR SME? Help is available

A

number of private and state entities have set up relief funding schemes to support small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. Here’s a list of relief programmes and initiatives that you can take advantage of to help you stay afloat.

Department of Small Business Development spaza shops and general dealers support scheme in partnership with Nedbank To improve access to the spaza shops and general dealers support scheme, the Department of Small Business Development wishes to clarify: a. The support scheme also benefits the general dealers/traditional grocery stores in townships and villages with applicable licenses that are 100% owned by South Africans. b. Local hardware stores are also beneficiaries under this scheme, and their funding package is being finalised to ensure their ability to operate as their businesses have been included in the updated list of businesses offering essential services. The support for artisans (plumbers, electricians, etc) whose services have been classified as essential will also be announced during the week.

c. The Department has finalised an agreement with Nedbank to support spaza shops and general dealers on the back of the Khula Credit Guarantee Scheme of SEFA. Engagements to make similar arrangements with the other banks are continuing. Support through Nedbank and its channels became available from Saturday, 18 April 2020. d. Given its footprint, Nedbank has availed the Nedbank Desks that are found in all Boxer stores countrywide to serve as additional service points.

How to apply The spaza shop/ general dealer owner must be a South African and hold a valid trading permit (including temporary) or business license in the case of a general dealer. Go to your nearest Nedbank or Boxer story with your SA ID book or card and your original trading licence or permit.

You must be willing to accept help to register you with CIPC, Sars and the UIF if you are not yet registered. You can then register on the SMMESA database and complete the application form.

Other terms and conditions apply.

What support is available under the scheme?

You will get access to working capital investment and a revolving credit facility backed by the Khula Credit Guarantee scheme of SEFA in partnership with Nedbank. The facility is available at participating wholesalers that are distributed countrywide. The list of participating wholesalers will be shared with approved spaza and general dealer owners. Business management support that includes assistance with basic financial management with the support of financial/business graduates will be given to provide dedicated support to the business over a 24-month period.

For additional assistance or enquiries, spaza shop and general dealer owners may call 0860 663 7867 or e-mail to spazasupport@dsbd.gov.za Additional information may be obtained from these official websites: www.dsbd.gov.za www.sefa.org.za www.seda.org.za www.mybindu.org.za

14

COVID-19 ASSISTANCE

www.spotongmag.co.za

Debt relief finance scheme Administered by the Department of Small Business, this scheme benefits SMEs and businesses that are negatively aff­ected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Qualifying criteria: • The business must have been registered with CIPC by at least 28 February 2020 • Company must be 100% owned by South African citizens • Employees must be 70% South Africans • Priority will be given to businesses owned by women, youth and people with disabilities • Be registered and compliant with SARS and UIF • SEDA will assist micro-enterprises to comply and request for assistance must be emailed to debtrelief@seda.org.za, small and medium enterprises must ensure own compliance • Registration on the national SMME database: https://smmesa.gov.za • Proof that the business is negatively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic • Complete the simplified online application platform

Company statutory documents: • FICA documents (municipal accounts, letter from traditional authority) • Certified copies of IDs of directors • Three months’ bank statements • Latest annual financial statements or latest management accounts not older than three months from date of application, where applicable • Business profile, six months’ cash flow projections, where applicable • Copy of lease agreement or proof of ownership if applying for rental relief • If applying for payroll relief, details of employees - as registered with UIF and including banking details – will be required as payroll payments will be made directly to employees • SMME employers who are not compliant with UIF must register before applying for relief • Facility statements of other funders • Detailed breakdown on application of funds including salaries, rent etc.

Register on www.smmesa.gov.za, complete the online application form and upload the required supporting documents.

Spaza shop grant funding

Tourism Relief Fund The Tourism Relief Fund provides once-off capped grant assistance to small, micro and medium sized enterprises (SMMEs) in the tourism value chain to ensure their sustainability during and post the implementation of government measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 in South Africa.

Capped at R50 000 per entity, grant funding can be utilised to subsidise expenses towards fixed costs, operational costs, supplies and other pressure cost items.

Guided by the Tourism Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Codes of Good Practices approved by the Minister of Trade and Industries in 2015 (in line with the BBBEE Act No.53 of 2003), the Tourism Relief Fund is administered in line with the objectives of economic transformation, and our vision to ensure sustainable and inclusive tourism development.

Categories eligible to apply for the Tourism Relief Fund include • Accommodation establishments: hotels, lodges, bed and breakfast (B&Bs), guest houses and backpackers.

• Hospitality and related services: restaurants (not attached to hotels); conference venues (not attached to hotels); professional catering; and attractions • Travel and related services: tour operators; travel agents; tourist guiding; car rental companies; and coach operators.

The application window for the Tourism Relief Fund will close on 31 May 2020.

For more information visit: www.tourism. gov.za or contact the call centre Mon-Sun from 08:00-22:00 on 0860 868 747 or email callcentre@tourism.gov.za

Administered by the Department of Small Business in collaboration with SEFA. The total fund of R30m assists sole proprietors operating spaza shops with R10 000 (with a possible R5 000 being made available as a second phase) for purchasing a basket of essential goods at a discounted price for a period of three months from participating wholesalers.

Visit: www.sefa.org.za

National Empowerment Fund Covid-19 Black Business Funding Solution R200-million has been set aside under the Covid-19 Black Business Fund as a blended facility for SMEs that manufacture and supply identified priority products (including food) to access concessionary loan funding. Funding of R500 000 – R10 million is available.

Required documents: • Declaration on BEE status and size of business • NEF application form (accessible on NEF website: www.nefcorp.co.za) • Summary of production in the last three months • Copy of the financial statements (up to three years) • Signed copy of the contract or purchase order from the applicant’s client/s • Financial forecast for the duration of the contract, order, or letter of intent • Additional information that would be necessary to enhance the application may be requested by the NEF as and when deemed necessary.

COVID-19 ASSISTANCE

Issue 33

15

SANTACO (The South African National Taxi Council) Covid-19 Relief Fund SANTACO has launched a R3.5-billion Covid-19 relief fund that will compensate workers in the industry. It aims to help 100 000 queue marshals, 150 000 taxi drivers and the taxi associations’ support staff whose livelihoods have been compromised by the pandemic.

Visit: www.santaco.co.za

SEFA Debt Restructuring Facility offers sixmonth pay holiday Small businesses funded by the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA) will be given a payment holiday for the next six months, with certain conditions.

Standard Bank From 1 April 2020, Standard Bank will support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a payment holiday for 90 days (01 April 2020 until 30 June 2020) – restructuring payments for the repayment to come into effect after the 90-period.

Visit the Standard Bank Covid-19 site. Small businesses, students and those needing help with home loans can email debtcarecentre@ standardbank.co.za or call 0860 123 000.

Visit www.smmesa.gov.za

Absa

UIF Covid-19 Temporary Relief Scheme This allows employers to apply for the Covid-19 Temporary Relief Benefit – to stem the financial distress due to the pandemic for up to three months. The benefit is de-linked from the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s normal benefits and will only pay for the cost of salary for the employees during the temporary closure of the business operations.

Benefits will pay a replacement income equal to minimum wage of the sector concerned and be capped to a maximum amount of R17 712 per month per employee. It is subject to the income replacement rate sliding scale (38%-60%) as provided for in the Unemployment Insurance Fund Act 63 of 2001. Businesses can apply for the Covid-19 TERS Benefit from the UIF by visiting https://uifecc.labour.gov.za/covid19/covid19

From 1 April 2020, Absa’s corporate and business clients will be offered solutions based on their unique requirements and operations. For retail clients, the ABSA relief programme incorporates a three-month payment holiday and allows customers to reduce their monthly repayments.

See more details on the Absa Covid-19 site.

Absa bond home-owners who would like to apply for relief should mail bondrs@absa.co.za

FNB From 1 April to 30 June 2020 aimed at providing relief to individual and business FNB customers whose financial stability has been impacted by Covid-19 pandemic.

Visit the FNB COVID-19 site.

Nedbank Nedbank has expanded its relief measures and assistance for financially stressed clients to assist with overdrafts, home loans and certain waivers to merchants during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Visit www.nedbank.co.za

16

ADVERTORIAL

www.spotongmag.co.za

HOME SCHOOLING IS A FAMILY AFFAIR UNDER LOCKDOWN

By Ntombi Ntunzi & Roxanne Francis

I

n the words of the great South Africa statesman, Nelson Mandela: “Young people must take it upon themselves to ensure that they receive the highest education possible so that they can represent us well in future as future leaders.” As the world battles to rid itself of the novel Coronavirus, young people are encouraged to remember Mandela’s words and find creative ways to keep learning outside the classroom while under a nationwide lockdown.

This mammoth task is not only one for pupils but parents too, who are urged now more than ever to be hands-on with home schooling. This by no means replaces the hard work and contribution made by over four hundred thousand educators countrywide. We salute you, our teachers!

Many parents can attest to the reality that multitasking has become near impossible due to the uncertainty of Covid-19, the stress of working from home, economic turbulence, and now home schooling.

Keineloe Phakathi, the mother of a Grade R pupil, shares her experience thus far: “It has been tough trying to home school my son. Home is his comfort zone and he takes advantage of this. On some days I get a low-spirited ‘Ahh, Mommy’, and on others I have an eager beaver who wants to learn everything at once. Every day brings a new challenge for both of us,” she says.

Our government has come up with an extensive reinforcement plan to help parents and pupils figure out how to make home schooling a success. For starters, the Education Department has made available online resources such as study material, multimedia and reading material on the education.gov website.

Corporates have also come on board to play their part.

Vodacom’s e-learning school can be accessed free for educational content for all grades, while MTN has provided zero-rated online resources on siyavula.com and Microsoft offers students free access to Office365 by visiting mahala.ms.

Grade 5 pupil Nkanyiso finds the online platform very helpful as an edutainment tool. “I get to see the things I learn about and I can also save notes. It beats carrying a heavy bag of books every day”.

Other edutainment tools include DStv’s mindset program on channel 319 and OpenView HD’s education show on channel 122.

Although Covid-19 caught South Africa and the world off guard, the swift and defined reaction by our government and citizens has been an assurance that South Africa is in good hands and the country will overcome this challenge.

Earlier this month, a new (and partially free) e-learning platform called Snapplify was launched.

It offers a 24-hour digital library, allows educators to upload and share teacher-created multimedia resources using the Resources and Groups functions, supplies past exam papers and allows for the purchase of textbooks.

There’s also Africa Teen Geeks, featured on careerwise.co.za. Although this computer science NPO has been around 2014, the platform has since been amplified to assist parents, learners and educators during lockdown. Its sister programme MsZora specialising in AI (artificial intelligence) has been offering lockdown classes, primarily for learners in

matric and later across all other grades. Check it out here https://www.africateengeeks.co.za/ As declared by President Ramaphosa in his lockdown announcement address: “In the days, weeks and months ahead, our resolve, our resourcefulness and our unity as a nation will be tested as never before.

I call on all of us, one and all, to play our part. To be courageous, to be patient, and above all, to show compassion. Let us never despair. For we are a nation at one, and we will surely prevail.”

“One thing I am very proud of is the unity South Africans have shown during the lockdown, especially among parents. Information sharing platforms via WhatsApp groups and social media venting by other parents who are going through a lot, is a support group I can definitely sign up to,” says Phakathi.

Here are some useful links for easy learning: • http://www.worksheetcloud.com/live • https://stories.audible.com/start-listen • https://www.khanacademy.org/ • https://www.siyavula.com/ • https://socrative.com/ • https://kahoot.com/ • https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/ • https://www.codespace.co.za/about • https://sisanda.com/pages/sisanda Speaking to educators, parents and learners, it is clear that home schooling under lockdown has been a tough but valuable lesson so far, not only for the class of 2020, but for all of us.

Sources: EWN; The Conversation

Issue 33

STOP FAKE NEWS Anyone that creates or spreads fake news about the Coronavirus COVID-19 is liable for prosecution.

Verify the information before you share information.

SOCIAL DISTANCE YOURSELF BY WORKING FROM HOME

HOW TO WASH YOUR HANDS THE RIGHT WAY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

17

Preventing the spread of germs is especially important at home and workplace environments.

KEEP A SAFE SOCIAL DISTANCE OF 2 METRES Keeping a safe distance (approximately 2 metres) from others and avoiding gathering spaces such as schools, churches, concert halls and public transportation.

TIPS FOR WORKING FROM HOME

2 METRES

1. Maintain a Routine 2. Don’t Use Extra Time to Work 3. Use Video Chat 4. Take Breaks 5. Move Around POWERED BY BRAND SOUTH AFRICA

18

www.spotongmag.co.za

VUMA FIBRE REACH BRINGS AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE FIBRE INTERNET TO SOWETO The township’s residents can now access affordable, reliable fast fibre internet in the safety and comfort of their own homes from Vuma Fibre Reach

A

new world of possibilities is just a quick click or phone call away for residents in Soweto who choose to connect their homes to Vuma Fibre Reach. Access to fibre in the home is more than just a nice-tohave – it’s the key that opens the door to a more convenient, enjoyable and fulfilling life right from the safety and comfort of your home.

After a lot of research into the community of Soweto, Vuma worked to secure the necessary approvals from the ward councillors of the City of Johannesburg before beginning the installation of fibre-optic infrastructure throughout the area.

What is fibre-optic infrastructure? Unlike copper cables, fibre optics are made of glass. They have no resale value, but the improvements they can bring to Soweto are life-changing and priceless.

Fibre-optic infrastructure is able to transfer data almost as fast as the speed of light! That means the residents of Soweto can access a world of information, stream TV shows and movies, and do so much more at the click of a button. Fibre packages are available for residents on a pre-paid

basis from internet service providers, which means residents won’t be tied into a contract, and have the freedom to buy services for data as and when they choose.

than other internet services. It enables seamless internet connectivity that changes the way people connect with each other and to the world,” says Vuma CEO Dietlof Mare.

These fibre services can give every home in the Vuma Fibre network: • 20/10Mbps uncapped internet connection • Free in-home fibre installation and wi-fi enabled devices • 24/7 availability and support • No long contracts • Pre-paid service

Some of the benefits of fibre to the home are:

Fibre is faster and more affordable than any other type of internet connection, which means you won’t have to wait a whole day for a movie or series to download. In fact, downloading a 5GB movie takes just a few minutes – sometimes even less!

“Fibre is revolutionising the way South Africans do things. People are experiencing abundant internet access with unlimited connectivity in the comfort of their homes. Fibre is faster and more reliable

• Education: Family members, especially children, will have access to a world of knowledge and online educational tools for all school projects and won’t need to leave the safety of their homes just to access the internet • Entertainment for everyone: The whole family can watch movies, sports and series, listen to music online, and browse the internet – all at the same time and from the comfort of their homes • Connected lifestyle: Stay connected to family and friends near and far. Keep up to date with news, social media, messages and video call 24/7.

Vuma Fibre Reach lets users enjoy the internet at lightning-fast speed at affordable costs.

For more information visit www.vumareach.co.za

Issue 33

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

19

20

FINANCE

www.spotongmag.co.za

MEDICAL AID,

HEALTH INSURANCE

OR GAP COVER?

By Annelé Oosthuizen, Senior Consulting Manager at Alexander Forbes Health

C

hoosing an appropriate medical aid scheme can be overwhelming.

While the country is experiencing a grim economic period, tightening your belt is essential. However, cancelling your medical aid should be avoided as this cover will protect you financially if you have unexpected medical emergencies. Rather look at how you can make your medical aid and savings last longer.

In difficult times, the first thing many people do is look for a more “budget-friendly” plan – usually the most alluring is a health insurance plan. However, it is important to note that while health insurance may cover unforeseen medical aid care, it is not as extensive as medical aid cover and may not cover the prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs) that have to be covered on all medical schemes.

Primary healthcare insurance cover is designed to offer affordable primary healthcare cover to the previously uncovered population. It should be noted that these products often do not cover all hospitalisation costs and they are not necessarily a viable substitute to a medical aid scheme.

Gap cover is a separate type of healthcare insurance cover and is designed to cover certain medical costs that your medical aid may not cover while you are in hospital. It is also important to understand

that these products are not medical schemes and can only be offered in addition to a valid medical scheme membership. Cover will depend on the particular product and, depending on design, it may not include: • Co-payments for procedures when you are in a waiting period • Routine medical check-ups and out of hospital visits • Home-based care • Medical procedures that are done by nonnetwork medical service providers.

It should be noted that these products often do not cover all hospitalisation costs and they are not necessarily a viable substitute to a medical aid scheme.

Gap cover could, however, cover: • Some of your casualty unit costs • Co-payments for certain specified hospital procedures • Cancer treatment co-payments to an extent

Generic medication can also dramatically reduce how much you spend on medication, so ask your pharmacist for advice when filling prescriptions.

The yearly increase on medical aid cover can stretch your budget as premiums increase, but make your medical aid go further by doing the following: • using network doctors, optometrists, hospitals, dentists and network-approved pharmacies • visiting your general practitioner first instead of going directly to a specialist • taking medication that forms part of your scheme’s medicine list or formulary to avoid co-payments.

The best way to make your medical aid go further is by understanding how various benefits and components of your medical aid work and what they cover.

Speaking to a healthcare adviser is the best possible way to ensure you get the very best out of your cover, as they can advise on your individual needs when choosing a plan that can ultimately save you in the long run. No two individuals are alike and therefore what they require out of a medical aid plan would differ, so consult a professional about cover that suits your personal budget.

Issue 33

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

21

22

ESTATE PLANNING

www.spotongmag.co.za

DO YOU HAVE A

VALID WILL? If not, do you know the requirements for drafting one?

A

s a small business owner, what will happen when you die?

What happens to your family?

What happens to your business?

Small business owners need to plan their estate more carefully than the average person does.

The first step is to draw up a will. If you want to direct how your personal property, money and possessions are to be divided among your family when you die, you need to have a valid will.

Otherwise, if you die intestate (without a will), your property is divided according to the laws of intestate succession – a process that can take years and often costs a lot of money. In this article, we look at the requirements for drafting a valid will.

The requirements for drafting a valid will are contained in section 2(1)(a) of the Wills Act 7 of 1953. The requirements are straightforward but even a meaningless oversight may make the entire document invalid. Having said that, courts have the power to condone a will that does not comply with all the formalities to try to avoid situations that may frustrate the testator’s (person who makes a will) good intentions.

Still, it is always advisable to abide by all the requirements in order to avoid any complications and delays.

Here are some of the basic requirements for drafting a valid will for the testator, who is a person who has written and executed a last will and testament that is in effect at the time of his/her death: 1. The testator must be older than 16 years of age.

2. The testator must be mentally capable of understanding the consequences of his or her actions at the time that the will was drafted.

Wills or provisions that are proven to be drafted under duress, undue influence or by mistake will be invalid.

3. The will must be in writing. It can be handwritten or printed – just make sure it’s clear and don’t forget to put your name on it.

4. The testator must sign at the end of the will.

While the act is not clear in this regard, it is recommended that the signature be placed just below or as near as possible to the last line of the will. A significant gap between the last line of the will and a testator’s signature might cause a will to be declared invalid. Furthermore, the following methods of signature are sometimes necessary when the testator is paralysed or is too ill to sign: 5. * A testator may request a person to sign on his or her behalf. In such an event, the signature must be made in the presence of the testator, at least two competent witnesses, and a commissioner of oaths. The commissioner of oaths must certify the will and sign each of its pages.

6. * A testator may sign a will by making a mark or a thumbprint in the presence of at least two competent witnesses and a commissioner of oaths.

The commissioner of oaths must certify the will and sign each of its pages. Witnesses may not sign by making a mark or thumbprint.

7. If the will is longer than one page, the testator (or someone on his or her behalf) must also sign every other page of the will, anywhere on the page.

8. The testator’s signature on the last page must be made or acknowledged in the presence of two competent witnesses who are present at the same time. According to Section 1 of the Wills Act, a competent witness is anyone over the age of 14 who is of sound mind and capable of understanding the consequences of his or her actions and can testify in court.

9. The witnesses must sign the last page of the will. The signatures can be made anywhere on the last page, but it is recommended that they are made below or as near as possible to the last line of the will. The witnesses’ role is to witness the signature of the testator or the person signing on the testator’s behalf. It is therefore not necessary for the witnesses to read the will. For additional evidential value, it is recommended that the witnesses add an attestation (evidence or proof of something) clause along the following lines: “We, X and Y, hereby confirm the signature of testator Z and declare that we have signed the will of Z on DATE in the presence of one another and of Z. 10. Although it is not a legal requirement, it is recommended that the witnesses also sign every other page of the will.

11. A beneficiary or executor should not sign a will as a witness. If they do, they may be disqualified from inheriting under the will.

The validity of the will, however, will not be affected.

12. While it is not a formal requirement for validity, it is highly recommended to date your last will and testament to avoid any confusion in the case that more than one will is found.

This document can be drawn up by an attorney of law, a certified bank official or it can be completed using one of many templates available online. The important part is that you have your last will and testament certified by a legal entity in order for it to be valid in a court of law.

Once all the documentation is drawn up and finalised, make sure you place it in a secure place where it can be easily found when you pass on.

TOWNSHIP NEWS

Issue 33

23

ITHALA HELPS ENHANCE THE

TOWNSHIP ECONOMY More than 150 ATM self-service devices have been allocated to spaza shops

F

inancial services provider Ithala SOC Limited is a financial institution that puts the growth of small businesses and consumers in townships first. The first phase of the pilot program to roll out ATM selfservice devices (SSDs) was launched in November 2018 to 20 merchants in eThekwini’s Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu, and was later introduced to the greater North KZN and Midlands regions.

I never thought that owning a spaza shop would be the only thing that puts food on the table, take the kids to school and also makes me live a comfortable life.”

More than 150 SSD units have been allocated to local shop owners across KZN, assisting an average of 200 customers per day. This program has grown and enhanced the revenue in townships and business owners praise this program for the fruits it has borne. SSDs allow customers to make cash withdrawals and balance enquiries, thus making transactional services accessible, convenient and efficient.

“The whole idea behind this program is to assist in revitalising the township economy and give opportunities to small enterprises. We are very happy about the positive feedback we are getting from small business owners. We also want our local people to have access to financial services without travelling long distances from their homes to town,” said Shane Moodley, head of retail and business banking. “The initiative to uplift SMMEs

“I received the SSD unit early last year,” says Thembinkosi Thusi, the owner of one of the tuck shops in the Ngonqokazi area. “It helped my business grow rapidly. I was able to extend my product offering to my customers through the profit the SSD unit generated. All I can say is that I am making more profit than before. The business has increased by 60% if I had to give my estimation.

Ithala SOC Limited is a 100 percent subsidiary of Ithala Development Finance Corporation and is mandated to serve ordinary South Africans and help them to manage their money and create wealth.

through innovative financial services is testament to our commitment to accelerate government priorities and fast-track the participation of the informal sector market in peri-urban and rural areas when collecting revenue.”

This did not only assist business owners but also customers who are very happy with the service and the convenience the machine brings.

“The machine is quick and easy to use. The fact that we don’t have to travel long distances to transact in town is a bonus for us,” says one of the local consumers.

Ithala continues to make financial services accessible to marginalised communities. New ATMs have been installed in the following areas: Thokoza supermarket, Sipho Gumede Rd, Illovo North; Dlamini Meat, Lot 1149 Section E, Umlazi; Umgeni Drift Supermarket Shop 1 L1138 Rd, Iqadi, Inanda.

A current distribution network of 39 branches in KZN provides convenient transacting facilities, which includes a comprehensive portfolio of corporate and personal financial service’s solutions.

For more information visit www.myithala.co.za, call 031 366 2500 or follow #MoveToIthala, @MyIthala #RedefiningWealth #MoneyTalks.

24

RETAIL NEWS

www.spotongmag.co.za

Shoprite the first retailer to offer OUTbonus following OUTsurance partnership

S

hoprite will be the first supermarket to offer an OUTbonus, following a partnership between Africa’s largest food retailer and OUTsurance, to bring consumers more accessible and affordable insurance products. A competitively priced funeral policy is the first product to launch under this new partnership, with numerous additional offerings in the pipeline.

“We are confident that this partnership will give more South Africans access to financial services in the form of simple and easy to understand products,” says OUTsurance CEO Danie Matthee.

“Two well-known and trusted South African brands are bringing together their complementary skills and assets such as retail reach, digital capabilities, insurance innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.”

“This collaboration is a natural fit,” explains Jean Olivier, general manager of financial services for the Shoprite Group. “It sees Shoprite and OUTsurance combining its value propositions - Lower Prices You Can Trust and You Always Get Something Out - to offer consumers a highly competitive and accessible range of insurance products.”

The Group will make these products available at the approximately 1 600 Money Market counters located in Shoprite, Usave, Checkers and Checkers Hyper stores nationally. These counters already enable millions of customers to make money transfers, buy bus tickets, pay bills and more.

The funeral policy is designed to give customers peace of mind and its key features include: • An OUTbonus, which gives customers one month’s premium back for every 12 premiums paid; • Pause and Play, a feature that allows cover to be paused for up to three months and resumed with no additional waiting period or cost; • Immediate payment of a R1 000 Shoprite gift card in the event of a valid claim; • An optional Accident Death policy that pays out double the sum assured for all lives in the event of accidental death; • No waiting period for natural death when switching from any other registered insurer.

OUTsurance is one of the country’s most innovative financial services companies with a reputation for great value-for-money products, backed by outstanding service delivery.

Customers are encouraged to visit the Money Market counter at their nearest Shoprite, Usave, Checkers and Checkers Hyper from end April 2020 to buy their funeral policy and start saving immediately.

Kweza, the best way to shop

S

ituated at a corner or on every other street you will find your favourite local spaza. The place where you buy your stock, top up your groceries or grab that refreshing cold drink. If you are a spaza shop owner you will know sourcing stock to serve your community can be challenging, timeconsuming and expensive. That’s where the story of Kweza begins. Started by four passionate individuals whose families have run similar businesses, Kweza is the solution for spaza shops that ensures they receive three value propositions: visibility, access, and convenience.

Visibility Kweza goes out of its way to source stock at the lowest available price in the market so that as a spaza you can build a sustainable business from the long hours you put in, and in turn as a community member, you are buying at the most competitive price.

Access Kweza doesn’t only show you the lowest price, they ensure you have access to it.

Through its easy-to-use mobile app, spaza shops have access to a wide range of products available to them at any time, from the comfort of their home or store.

They can then place orders and immediately see how much it will cost them before delivery, which happens within twenty-four hours of the order being placed.

Convenience Kweza understands the long hours spaza owners put in and that they can’t always leave their store, so its trusted team of delivery partners, who are locals in the township community, bring these products directly to their doorsteps. If you own your own bakkie please reach out to the team and become a part of the Kweza community.

RETAIL NEWS

Issue 33

South African start-up mo-Wash provides effortless hand-washing on the go

G

odfrey Sono and Sibusiso Vilakazi have successfully launched mo-Wash, their mobile hand-washing units, into the market.

This standalone, fully automatic portable unit requires no plumbing or drainage, providing a costeffective hygiene solution at functions such as funerals, weddings and outdoor events.

The budding entrepreneurs saw a gap in the market after noting that public events are a huge part of South African culture. One such occasion is at traditional funerals, where it is customary to wash hands after the gravesite has been visited.

The washing of hands is a very important part of African culture, but can be quite unhygienic as often, many wash their hands in that one basin. In other instances, there are outdoor events that have mobile ablution systems, but no adequate hygienic facilities to wash hands afterwards.

Regular handwashing helps prevent illness and is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others.

Statistics show that up to 80% of communicable diseases are transferred by touch and proper handwashing can reduce diarrhoea rates by 40% and respiratory infections by close to 20%. mo-Wash is a mobile hand-washer unit that provides event organisers with a cost-effective solution to the challenge of maintaining hygiene at outdoor functions and events. The mo-Wash has a hands-free water delivery system with a timer that controls water flow, a solar panel to power the water station, plus a battery option, and even Wi-Fi. The mo-Wash unit delivers a powerful 10-second wash, but the owner can adjust the settings according to his or her needs. “mo-Wash is dedicated to educating the public on the importance of hand-washing rituals and the role they play in preventing the spread of diseases.

Kweza believes that technology does more than just connect us. It can be used to empower us. Their mission is to empower small businesses to formalise, digitise and more importantly, to grow. Kweza looks to provide visibility, access, and convenience beyond just inventory but through other digital products. If you are interested or just curious, reach out and chat to the team and join their community today.

Reach out to Kweza on: +27676842056, Whatsapp +27681266721, email hello@kweza. co.za, or download the app “HelloKwezaApp”.

Follow them on Facebook @ kwezatech or LinkedIn Kweza Technologies.

In our mission to do this, we visit schools across South Africa to instil the importance of learning how to clean one’s hands properly from an early age, we show them water-saving techniques, as well as the impact that hand-washing has on the communities around them,” says Godfrey Sono.

Frost & Sullivan, a business consulting firm involved in market research and analysis, has also given the mo-Wash unit their stamp of approval, awarding the start-up with the 2018 Frost & Sullivan New Product Innovation Award, saying, “mo-Wash provides a creative solution to prevent transferable diseases by using off-the-grid power to dispense water and soap for those that require access to sanitation facilities at private or public gatherings, while also promoting water conservation.” mo-Wash units are available to rent to event organisers needing hygienic mobile hand-washers for weddings, funerals, sports events, corporate events, public events and underprivileged schools.

For more information visit: www.mo-wash.co.za or email info@mo-wash.co.za

25

R TRADE O U IQ L E H T R O ROWTH G NEWS F IC M O N O C E RIBUTE TO T N O C ele L IL W I IL sting in SAB Zenz B A K E L nefits of re-inve E be e Z e Th el N nz E Ze Z a new SAB’S e fact that SAB SAB Zenzele into Kabili include th worth of shares the unwinding of from ld shares ced heme that will ho eries (SAB) announ empowerment sc e new th y, outh African Brew gl in v. Accord new R5.4-billion directly in AB InBe eholders ar sh the creation of its e el e, nz m nership sche ll allow SAB Ze wi ow e E m BE d he sc se ba dbroa bili follows to re-invest. li. SAB Zenzele Ka the opportunity e SAB Zenzele Kabi el nz Ze B ich success of the SA arrangement, wh the decade-long R14-billion sing a scheme of ed ili er Ut liv ele de nz Ze ve B ha SA ll proval from scheme, which wi requires 75% ap including SAB a s, st ie ve iar in fic ll ne wi be rs B retaile in value for its rs, shareholders, SA eir SAB retailer shareholde of the value of th % 15 of s Zenzele’s 29 000 ee um oy im pl in m em B es in SAB SA ar er sh d form change for 13 000 current an ele unwind in ex nds in nz wi Ze un the BEE it on en d wh te n lis datio which will be li, c bi ifi Ka ol and the SAB Foun e pr el t nz os Ze m ele shareholders the largest and the JSE. SAB Zenz of t April 2020. This is en h ut gm So se e th the SAB Zenzele transaction in ) on the scheme at broad-based BEE d CG te (FM vo rg on s od go er g in Johannesbu g consum al general meetin African fast-movin which nu e, an m he sc li bi Ka Zenzele industry. The SAB 19 March 2020. older approval, eh ar sh to t ec bj su li remains s of SAB SAB Zenzele Kabi ild on the succes The R5.4-billion a e h lu ug will replace and bu va ro g th tin ra ed fund intention of gene transaction will be ty ui Zenzele with the eq n io ill -m rs.

78 w BEE investo combination of R6 e for existing and ne isting SAB Zenzel ntribution from ex co ty rs ui de eq ol n 00-millio 000 shareh shareholders, R6 d The more than 40 ele will receive nz a new broad-base Ze m B fro SA n in io d ut rib nt co P) n who investe SO (E tio nsac nership plan lue when the tra ployee stock ow ent em stm R9.7-billion in va ve in to re t ec 44-million 2020 and will el nded by SAB, R3 AB fu of d n te io lis unwinds in April ill E-m JS v 11 Foundation, R8 in either AB InBe B e SA lu e va th is by th R2 d e ive an rece sale of thes shares from SAB oceeds from the InBev discounted ck ce share ba shares or cash pr en ed er fe ef t pr r en ea ist -y ns ceived co 973-million of 10 nt shares. SAB has re m SAB. ders that they wa ol eh ar sh e el nz vendor funding fro from SAB Ze e value th of rt pa st ve to re-in the opportunity

S

R5.4-billion Kabili will hold bstantial al operations, su ob gl v’s in AB InBe B through cilitation from SA and attractive fa sure po ex es and geared discounted shar 70% at g in nd e vendor fu through attractiv

success “Following the I look of SAB Zenzele, ext forward to the n B Zenzele chapter with SA we have Kabili, I believe l to reached our goa nomic deliver real eco sands of benefits to thou rough South Africans th SAB Zenzele.”

-Carnac, director ~ Richard Rivett d acquisitions an of mergers and “ treasury at SAB.

ele Kabili years. SAB Zenz of prime for 10 de their ill be able to tra shareholders w the bili shares from SAB Zenzele Ka ceive re to be entitled outset and will nds de vi di e % of th dividends as 25 after li, bi Ka e el nz Ze received by SAB ating er istrative and op servicing admin Kabili e el nz id to SAB Ze costs, will be pa ar. ye ch ea nd a divide shareholders as ele, ccess of SAB Zenz “Following the su r the next chapte I look forward to ard Kabili,” says Rich e el with SAB Zenz d an rs ge er m rector of Rivett-Carnac, di B. SA at y ur treas acquisitions and reached our goal ve ha we ve lie “I be to onomic benefits to deliver real ec h ug ro th s an uth Afric thousands of So SAB er off to ed cit ex are SAB Zenzele. We ty ni rtu ders the oppo Zenzele sharehol e st in SAB Zenzel ve in d to partner an of s th ng re st on the Kabili and build ing powering qualify em e, el nz SAB Ze ter en en further, as we shareholders ev

27 the new decade. The opportunity to own AB InBev shares through SAB Zenzele Kabili means that they will participate and benefit from the growth of our global business. SAB Zenzele Kabili will also have enhanced liquidity and transparency of pricing for shareholders. Through engagement with the

employee trust, we have worked on the principle of equal allocation, as we feel is the right way to allocate shares. We have worked closely with all of our stakeholders to build solid partnerships.”

“SAB is committed to contributing to long term economic growth and development in South

Africa,” says Andrew Murray, vice-president of finance at SAB. “With empowerment and ownership as key imperatives and core beliefs of the business, SAB intends to list the SAB Zenzele Kabili scheme on the JSE on Wednesday, 15 April 2020.”

vision,” Lisa said. “The introduction of our selfregulated code is more than just a promise and goes beyond just compliance. We, as an industry, already actively support campaigns that reduce alcohol abuse and we invest billions each year on responsible marketing activities. We have also committed to developing a substantial portion of our product portfolio into zero- or low-alcohol products.”

IN ALCOHOL ADVERTISING

T

he launch of the new code of commercial communications for alcohol beverage brands sets out clear guidelines for responsible marketing of their products to reduce harm. The Association for Alcohol Responsibility and Education (aware.org) is ramping up its commitment to reducing the harmful effects of alcohol abuse and misuse through the national launch of the industry’s Code for Commercial Communications.

The Code was recently launched to its partners, media, key marketing industry players and members of government at The Capital Hotel on Park in Sandton, Johannesburg. It was developed as a comprehensive self-regulatory framework and guideline that provides specific and structured principles for the crafting and dissemination of marketing messages for alcoholic products.

The purpose of the Code is to represent a firm commitment by the members of aware.org to maintain high standards of responsibility and ethical conduct in all commercial communication activities, which will demonstrate that we as an industry believe in marketing for change. It is designed to ensure that alcohol-related commercial communication is conducted in a manner which neither conflicts with nor detracts from the need for responsibility and moderation in liquor merchandising and consumption.

“Through the Code, we aim to encourage the best creative minds in the country, both agencies and marketers, to become world leaders in the responsible marketing arena,”

said Ingrid Louw, CEO of aware.org. “The Code is the industry standard which we can and must live by.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), South Africa is the 6th-largest drinking nation in the world and even though only 30% of South Africans consume alcohol.

The alcoholic beverage industry has been mulling the potential impact of the National Liquor Amendment Bill, presented for public comment in 2016, which could place severe restrictions on the industry’s ability to market their products if enacted into law.

“The aim is certainly not to wag the finger to communicate our strategic intention but it is an opportunity for us to engage with those who have the greatest influence on the strategy, approach and creative expression of the marketing of alcohol products, whether on television, radio, billboards or in digital spaces, which is where most brands communicate their brand messages today and which will continue to grow exponentially in the future,” continues Louw.

Notable speakers at the launch event affirming the industry’s commitment included: the chief director of the National Liquor Authority, Prea Ramdhuny, Heineken corporate affairs director for South Africa Millicent Maroga, MD of Diageo SA Graeme Harlow and vice-president for corporate affairs at SAB Zoleka Lisa, who opened the event on behalf of the chairman of the Board of aware.org, Ricardo Ferreira.

“We need to develop a common industry

A dynamic and challenging panel discussion chaired by veteran journalist and radio presenter John Perlman featured chief director of the National Liquor Authority Prea Ramdhuny, corporate affairs director of Distell Southern Africa Jolene Henn, CEO of the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) Gail Schimmel and chief creative officer at Joe Public, Xolisa Dyeshana.

“When Government launched its policy document seeking to change advertising laws and regulations, it was in response to the wide-ranging socio-economic effects of alcohol abuse in the country and the industry’s seeming lack of motivation to change its harmful marketing practices,” Ramdhuny said. “Our hope is that through this Code, the industry can demonstrate that it is not only committed to responsible marketing but can make a real and immediate change in how its products are marketed.”

The debate raised tough questions about the potential efficacy of the Code and the practicalities of its implementation and adoption, as well as its potential impact on alcohol harm reduction in South Africa.

The launch event was concluded by an announcement of aware.org partnering with the Loeries in the annual Loeries Student Challenge, where design, advertising and marketing students around South Africa are invited to find creative solutions to combat underage drinking, using Instagram as a firstto-mobile creative platform for change.

“As the alcohol industry, we will lead from the front with responsible marketing through creative innovation,” says Louw. “We believe that this challenge will be one of our first milestones in driving real and sustainable change through creativity, both locally and internationally.”

The winning campaign will be produced professionally with Facebook and Instagram’s guidance, together with the winners, and run on Instagram to millions of people, courtesy of Facebook.

28

NEW RETAIL PRODUCTS

www.spotongmag.co.za

NEW ON THE SHELF DID YOU KNOW, YOU CAN NOW BLOW BUBBLES OF CHAPPIES COLA! South Africa’s leading bubblegum brand, Chappies, with its iconic “Did you know?” facts is now bringing you a fun and flavourful bubblegum that will keep you blowing bubbles of Chappies Cola. This exciting new flavour will create excitement for the next generation of Chappies chewers who will learn how much fun chewing bubblegum really is.

As a product of Mondelez South Africa, the parent company prides itself in being innovative while keeping true to its legacy and strong heritage through its brands. Chappies is a brand with a longstanding history and has become one of the most impactful brands in South African communities to this day.

The new Chappies Cola flavour is a culmination of South Africa’s number one bubblegum brand along with the number one leading soft drink flavour. The combination of the two will excite both young and old audiences who have enjoyed Chappies bubblegum over the years. “We wanted to excite Chappies consumers and introduce new consumers to the fun of chewing bubblegum by blowing bubbles of Chappies Cola,” says Trushann Thomas, the category brand manager for Gum. Chappies, which recently celebrated its 70th birthday, has made its limitededition Cola flavour available at select wholesalers, taxi ranks and spaza shops nationwide.

For more information on Chappies, visit the Chappies SA Facebook page.

INTRODUCING YUM YUM CHOCOLATE DREAMS! Finally, the dream we’ve all wanted to come true – chocolate and peanut butter becoming one! New Chocolate Dreams – the goodness of peanut butter with the taste of chocolate.

For more information visit: www.rcl.com

SA’S FAVOURITE COFFEE BRAND LAUNCHES RICOFFY N’ICE Nescafé Ricoffy n’Ice, a derivative of South Africa’s favourite coffee brand, will be available in four indulgent creamy flavours: Original, Vanilla, Mocha and Caramel, and will deliver the smooth creamy white cup profile that South Africans know and love in an iced coffee option. The brand is locally ­manufactured and available at all major retailers.

For more information visit: www.nescafe.com/za/

TWO MORE PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN CHIP FLAVOURS HIT THE SHELVES As part of the nationwide campaign “What’s your Mmmzansi Flavour”, Simba has launched two more locally inspired flavours: Chakalaka and Shisanyama.

The campaign saw Simba, with Anele Mdoda, one of SA’s most loved radio personalities, calling for people far and wide to share their own Mmmzansi flavour, reflecting all that our nation loves to eat. South Africans jumped at the opportunity, suggesting a variety of delectable homegrown flavours in celebration of both Simba and our nation’s rich, local heritage.

The two new flavours, Chakalaka and Shisanyama, follow hot on the heels of the recently launched Chilli Biltong flavour and were chosen because they are what South Africans most love to eat. The combinations of meat and spice repeatedly came up as favourites, and the pairings were created using dishes that have been on local menus for generations.

“Chakalaka and Shisanyama are such iconic South African foods, enjoyed by millions in their homes each day. Our intention is to capture these classic favourites into a bag of Simba chips and take people on a locally inspired flavour journey,” says Agnes Kitololo, the marketing director at PepsiCo. So, go into a store and grab your packet of Simba’s new Mmmzansi flavoured Chakalaka and Shisanyama chips.

For more information visit: www.simba.co.za

NEW RETAIL PRODUCTS

Issue 33

29

KAUAI EXPANDS INTO NEW HEALTHY FROZEN RANGE WITH PICK N PAY Kauai, South Africa’s leader in healthy food, has extended its brand into retail with the launch of an innovative frozen product range in partnership with Pick n Pay. The partnership marries Kauai’s 23 years of experience as the leader in healthy food, with Pick n Pay’s heritage as a trusted retailer, to make healthy eating more accessible to a broader range of customers.

The Pick n Pay powered by Kauai frozen product range was developed to meet the growing demand from customers seeking healthier ready-to-eat meals that they can conveniently enjoy at home.

The new range includes a variety of healthy frozen smoothies, already available in-store, with frozen meals and side dishes available from January 2020.

The range will include some of Kauai’s top-selling meals and smoothies, like the Strawberry Stinger smoothie and Butta Chicken Bowl.

Pick n Pay, which recently relaunched its Livewell range to include easy-to-read labels for smarter, healthier food choices, says that it wants to make healthier eating easier, more accessible and more desirable. The Pick n Pay powered by Kauai range is the latest addition to the Livewell range consisting of more than 600 products. “Healthier food shouldn’t be seen as boring or less tasty. The new range will offer our customers a delicious, yet quick and easy healthy meal option,” says Nicki Russell, head of innovation and trends at Pick n Pay.

FROZEN MEALS • Hearty Veggie Bowl – A warm and comforting veggie stew with quinoa, lentils and basil pesto • Mexi Veggie Bowl – Smoky spicy beans, flavoured rice and butternut side • Thai Veg Curry Bowl – Authentic Thai flavour with a rainbow of vegetables • Garden Cottage Pie – Lentil stew topped with orange root vegetable mash

• Moroccan Chicken & Chickpea Bowl – Kauai’s Moroccan sauce with free range chicken, chickpeas and almonds • Butta Chicken Bowl – A veggie-packed take on a classic Indian dish with brown rice, millet, buckwheat and quinoa • Low Carb Butta Chicken Bowl – A lower-carb version of a classic Indian dish with turmeric, roasted cauliflower, ginger and garlic

The restaurant-quality meals and smoothies can simply be taken out of the freezer and cooked or prepared from frozen in the quantities customers choose, so there is no wastage. Like the menu in Kauai stores, the ready-to-eat frozen range avoids additives, preservatives, artificial colourants and flavourants. The Pick n Pay powered by Kauai range includes:

SMOOTHIES • Tropical Greens – Tropical fruits with a punch of ginger and nutrient-dense greens • Plant Power – Sunny pineapple paired with plant-based protein powder, packs a vegan nutrient punch • See Monster – An orange fruit and veg smoothie great for supporting the immune system • Very Berry – Bursting with flavour and antioxidants-rich berry fruit • Strawberry Stinger – Kauai’s all-time fan fave, a healthier take on a strawberry shake, with strawberries and banana • All the Greens – A health-seeker’s go-to green smoothie, packed with nutrientdense greens, hemp and chia seeds

FROZEN SIDES • Spiced Butternut – A hint of cayenne pepper & coriander complement the sweetness of our slow-roasted butternut • Root Vegetable Mash – Kauai’s trio of root vegetables are slow-roasted for depth of flavour, then blended to a fluffy texture • Ancient Grain Mix – Kauai’s mix of whole grains is a blend of interesting textures, an alternative base for grain bowls and additions to curries.

For more information visit: www.kauai.co.za

30

RETAIL INVENTORY

www.spotongmag.co.za

ESSENTIAL

RETAIL STOCK DETTOL FLOOR AND ALL PURPOSE CLEANER Dettol 4 in 1 Disinfectant Floor and All Purpose Cleaner’s unique formula is specifically developed to remove stains, give a sparkling shine and leave a lasting fresh fragrance. www.dettol.co.za

KINGSLEY ORANGE It’s frizzy, fruity and 100% refreshing.

Kingsley Orange is available in a 330ml, 500ml and 2-litre PET bottle and a 440ml can.

www.kingsleybeverages.com/za

COLGATE MAXIMUM CAVITY PROTECTION The Calcium and Active Fluoride formula helps prevent cavities and strengthen teeth.

Helps to whiten teeth and has a great mint taste which freshens your breath. www.colgate.com

STAYFREE MAXI PADS Actively prevents and neutralises odours so you can go through your day with confidence and without changing your routine while providing up to eight hours of protection.

Weet-Bix is all about wholesome goodness, containing wholegrains and no preservatives or colourants. It is high in fibre and is one of only two breakfast cereals endorsed by Cansa. www.bokomo.co.za

MED-LEMON ORIGINAL FLAVOUR

Made with real butter, real coconut and syrup and trans-fat free. Enjoy them in various flavours and in convenient on-the-go mini singles and multipacks. www.bakers.co.za

LUCKY STAR SARDINES Found in the waters of cold, nutrient-rich seas, it’s no surprise that Lucky Star Sardines are a super healthy and nutritious addition to your meal plan.

Enjoy Lucky Star Sardines on their own, as a snack or as the main ingredient to a range of Lucky Star recipes. www.luckystar.co.za

www.jnjconsumer.co.za

PALMOLIVE MOISTURE CARE SOAP WEET-BIX

BAKERS TENNIS BISCUITS ORIGINAL

Palmolive Moisture Care bar soap contains 100% olive extract to help keep you moisturised. www.colgatepalmolive.com

SIMBA CHEESE TWIRLS Simba Cheese Twirls is the tastiest and freshest snack around. Once you have a bite you’ve got to have more. www.simba.co.za

SUPER SUN SUPER MAIZE MEAL Super Sun is a firm favourite, particularly in the north-eastern region of South Africa. For over 50 years this high-grade course meal has been produced from the milling of de-germinated maize. Super Sun gets its name from the African sun, which grants us all the energy we need for growth and nourishment. Super Sun is a tasty, healthy and nutritious carbohydrate, which is filling and satisfying. www.premierfmcg.com

MOIR’S JELLY

Hot medication with Vitamin C. The flavourful cold and flu fighter. Available in 18s and single serve sachets.

Moir’s has been a successful South African brand for more than 100 years. The business, founded by Scotsman John Moir, who began by making fruit-flavoured jellies, is a staple in South African kitchens.

www.medlemon.co.za

www.moirs.co.za

Issue 31

NEW RETAIL PRODUCTS

31

32

LIQUOR NEWS

www.spotongmag.co.za

OUR LOCAL BRANDS

COME OUT TOPS Make sure to add these award winners to your menu

WORLD TITLES FOR PRODUCERS OF BAIN’S CAPE MOUNTAIN WHISKY The James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington, home of proudly South African Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, and its founder distiller Andy Watts both took the world titles as Sustainable Distillery of the Year and World Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year at the 2020 Icons of Whisky Awards held annually by Whisky Magazine in London.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic the awards were released live on social media. Beating competition from producers across the globe ranging from Scotland, America and Ireland to Australia, these distillers’ awards prove that South Africa is at the forefront of whisky making.

The James Sedgwick Distillery in the Western Cape is also currently a source of distilling alcohol to support the country’s fight against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Andy Watts, founder distiller of Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, says innovation has been key in the success of South African whisky.

“Bain’s was launched in 2009, long before single grain whisky became a trend around the globe.

My vision for this whisky was to offer consumers something truly South African made with 100% South African maize and quite uniquely double matured for a period of five years in casks previously used for the maturation of bourbon.

This, together with our warm South African climate, which accelerates maturation, resulted in an exceptional, smooth whisky with extraordinary flavour and makes the whisky truly one of a kind. And in its own right, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky has been awarded as the World’s Best Grain Whisky twice at the 2013 and 2018 World Whiskies Awards, segmenting our country’s reputation for making world-class whisky.”

The distillery, the only commercial whisky distillery in Africa, has been at the forefront of innovation with state-ofthe-art equipment and ingenious sustainability projects. In addition to the recent Icons of Whisky award,

the James Sedgwick Distillery was recognised with the prestigious Green Company of the Year award hosted by the BIG Awards for Business towards the end of 2019.

“Making whisky is not just about the liquid. It’s about finding ways to lessen the impact on the environment,” says Watts. “Over the years we have implemented a number of initiatives that include recycling spent grains, which are high in protein, for animal feed; treating waste water firstly through an anaerobic digester and then further through a reverse osmosis (RO) plant - the first part of the water treatment recovers methane gas, which is brought back into the process in order to reduce coal usage. The second treatment through the RO plant results in approximately 35% of the water being re-used as process water (for cooling and boilers). Collecting the CO² emanated during fermentation for use in carbonated drinks is a further initiative.”

This year’s Icons of Whisky Awards has been a tremendous win for South Africa. Big Five Duty Free was awarded as the Whisky Icon - Travel Retailer of the Year and WhiskyBrother as the Whisky Icon Single Outlet Retailer of the Year.

Twitter: @BainsWhisky #BainsMoments @TheWhiskyMaker

TOWNSHIP TOURISM

Issue 33

TOKARA EXCELS AGAIN AT WM 10-YEAR-OLD WINE AWARDS

ROODEBERG RED WINS DOUBLE GOLD IN JAPAN

TOKARA, the acclaimed family-owned Stellenbosch wine estate, has excelled as a top-performing cellar at the WM 10-Year-Old Wine Awards for the fourth consecutive year, with four wines breaking the venerable 90-point barrier.

Roodeberg, the legendary South African wine that has been enjoyed the world over for more than 70 years, has brought home a Double Gold medal from the 7th Sakura Japan Women’s Wine Awards 2020.

The awards are judged solely by women in Japan with a tasting panel of 560 wine industry experts, and are hailed the largest wine competition in Asia with more than 4 300 entries.

Roodeberg Red was awarded top honours for the 2018 vintage.

This famous blend of classic red varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Petit Verdot and Tannat, erupts in your glass with aromatic layers of red fruit, cassis and pencil shavings enriched by warm tones of tobacco and dark chocolate. The palate is elegant and well-rounded with nuances of cedar oak and dark plums, supported by soft tannins that linger long after the last sip.

Launched in 1949, Roodeberg is a true South African original that has stood the test of time. This contemporary classic is the heart and soul of memorable moments and is best enjoyed with friends and family over a hearty roast, around the braai or with your favourite chicken dish.

Visit www.roodeberg.co.za for more information about the rich heritage of this classic red blend.

33

Showing its prowess as a world-class producer of wines of remarkable age-ability and consistency, Tokara was ranked second-highest performer overall once again this year.

SURVIVOR STRIKES A GRAND WINES HAT TRICK AT SAWI WINE AWARDS Survivor, the unbridled wine range rooted in the Swartland, has joined the ranks of South Africa’s best-performing wines in the South African Wine Index (SAWi) with no less than three contenders in the top tier Grand Wines Collection.

Survivor Reserve Pinotage with a score of 99,4 and Sauvignon Blanc on 96,2 were both awarded Platinum, while Survivor Chenin Blanc earned Grand Gold with 93,4.

This annual barometer of wine excellence recognises wines that have stood the test of time.

The Wine Index is scored out of 100 and calculated according to the combined results a particular wine has achieved over numerous vintages in any of 100 different local and international wine contests.

Only wines that have attained a minimum score of 93 make the cut for SAWi’s new Grand Wines Collection category spanning the last 10 years.

“Our high SAWi scores across three of our topperforming wines shows that we are on the right track with our Survivor range and strengthens our resolve to maintain our single-minded focus on a sense of place and authenticity,” says winemaker Ben Snyman.

Last year the top-scoring Survivor Reserve Pinotage won the trophy for best Pinotage at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show.

Survivor wines are inspired by the spirited indigenous Nguni cow that stands proud on every bottle as a symbol of tenacity, exuberance and African folklore.

For more information visit www.survivorwines.com

The competition, held annually under the Winemag.co.za banner to showcase age-worthy South African wines, attracted 74 entries from the 2010 vintage.

The four Tokara 2010 wines – three whites and a red – awarded 90 points or higher on the 100-point scale are two Chardonnays, the Reserve Collection and Zondernaam, and the Director’s Reserve White, all on 91 points, followed by the Director’s Reserve Red with 90.

“We pride ourselves not only on the consistency and longevity of our wines but also of our people.

After 20 vintages at Tokara under his belt, our viticulturist Aidan Morton is the scientist behind our vineyards.

Coupled with the youthful exuberance of Stuart Botha in the cellar, it’s a perfect match,” says Karl Lambour, Tokara’s general manager.

These awardwinning wines are a reflection of everything the estate stands for – refinement, elegance and balance and above all, are a true expression of place.

For more information visit www.tokara.com

34

NEW LIQUOR PRODUCTS

www.spotongmag.co.za

BRAND NEW BEVERAGES

GROLSCH UNVEILS BOLD GLOBAL REDESIGN Established in 1615, Grolsch has over four centuries of rich stories and an uncompromising commitment to brewing beers of true substance.

To remind consumers of its heritage, the Netherlands-based brewer will showcase the brand stories and symbols it was built on, through a striking new re-design and branding.

The Grolsch logotype has been carefully redrawn to capture the character and craftsmanship of the brand’s original hand-painted signs, returned to its heritage red and placed within a clean white disc – a combination that is already familiar from the ceramic stopper which has always crowned the swing-top bottle.

The swing-top and disc are supported by authentic symbols of Grolsch’s substance from the brand archives. The Grolsch Brewery heritage mark celebrates the distinctive two-hop recipe pioneered by Peter Kuijper, whose signature also graces each pack. One of the brand’s earliest advertising lines, “Vakmanschap is Meesterschap” (meaning “craftsmanship is mastery”) returns to the pack alongside the 1615 date, which serves as a reminder that Grolsch’s brewing history is twice as long as most other beers.

Consumers can look forward to seeing Grolsch’s new pack in the iconic 450ml swing-top, the 500ml can and 330ml bottle in all leading liquor

CONVENIENCE AND TASTE FROM GREENALL’S AND OPIHR READY TO DRINK GIN & TONIC SERVES Greenall’s Wild Berry Gin & Tonic and Greenall’s Original Gin & Tonic come pre-mixed, so you can enjoy wherever the party’s happening without any fuss. The bold packaging offers a colourful nod to the two flavours, with the pearlescent bright pink (Wild Berry Gin & Tonic) and bright green (Original Gin & Tonic) cans ensuring high impact on shelf and strong appeal among the target millennial audience.

The Opihr G&T serves are the perfect choice for outdoor fun thanks to their great taste and handy twist-off caps. No bottle opener necessary! The range includes three flavours – Opihr Gin & Tonic with a dash of ginger, Opihr Gin & Tonic with a twist of orange, and a simple classic Opihr Gin & Tonic.

So whether at festivals, when having friends over for a braai, or when casually hanging in the park, the Greenall’s and Opihr G&T RTD serves are a convenient and enjoyable way to enjoy award-winning taste of some of the world’s best gins without the hassle of mixing.

Both available at major wholesalers & retailers nationwide.

For more information visit: www.greenallsgin.com and www.opihr.com

stores, restaurants and bars across the country from this month. To experience it first-hand, the new pack will be activated in selected premium outlets within the country throughout the year, kickstarting the initial one in Tembisa’s very own Hang Awt, owned by one of South Africa’s brightest talents, Shimza.

Join the conversation on social media: Twitter: @GrolschSA Instagram: @GrolschSA Facebook: @GrolschSA

MUSGRAVE CRAFTED SPIRITS LAUNCHES PREMIUM POTSTILL BRANDY RANGE Musgrave Crafted Spirits, known for being an innovative and disruptive brand in the South African spirits industry, was among the first to launch premium craft products Musgrave Original Gin and Musgrave Pink Gin. Boasting highly awarded flavour infusions that delight consumers worldwide, it’s the latest offering, Musgrave Copper (infused potstill brandy) that promises a new disruption in the market: Musgrave Copper Vanilla and Musgrave Copper Black Honey.

The Copper range is more aligned to the Cognac drinker than to a traditional brandy drinker, using the finest potstill brandy with the added excitement of flavour infusion. It attracts a consumer who exists beyond the preconceptions of their gender, age or race; they seek out the new.

For more information visit: www.musgravespirits.co.za

NEW LIQUOR PRODUCTS

Issue 33

35

WHAT TO DRINK WHEN YOU’RE NOT DRINKING - SEEDLIP The world’s first distilled non-alcoholic beverage lands in SA. Seedlip is the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirit, solving the dilemma of “what to drink when you’re not drinking”. The world is at the beginning of a paradigm shift in how it drinks. Global alcohol and sugary soft drink volumes are continuing to decline. A younger audience is shunning alcohol altogether. Seedlip is uniquely positioned to capitalise on this opportunity by increasing the repertoire available to those not drinking.

Available in two expressions, Seedlip Garden 108 captures the essence of the English countryside with sophisticated top notes of the handpicked peas and hay from the founder’s family farm with a complex herbal base character of spearmint, rosemary and thyme. Seedlip Spice 94 is aromatic with strong spice (allspice, berries and cardamom) and citrus (lemon and grapefruit peel) top notes and a long bitter from the highest quality barks (oak and cascarilla).

Both spirits are best served with tonic or as the base for martini or sour style non-alcoholic cocktails.

Encapsulating the spirit of mindful drinking, Seedlip is pioneering a new generation of no-alcohol spirits using manufacturing processes, ingredients, formats, occasions and rituals common to their alcoholic counterparts, to produce a sophisticated alternative non-alcoholic drink. Better yet, it boasts zero calories and it’s sugar-free, sweetener-free and artificial flavour-free, making a Seedlip and tonic the credible adult drink for those not drinking. At the same time, the trend of drinking less-but-better is also fuelling a shift towards higher-end products such as Seedlip.

Says Rowan Leibbrandt, founding owner of Truman & Orange, the South African drinks company importing Seedlip, “The global wellness trend has spurred a move away from artificial flavours to lighter, more natural ingredients. South Africa is no different and we’re aiming to offer our consumers greater choice when they are not drinking. We believe that South Africans are ready for Seedlip: it’s been embraced by the world’s food and drink pioneers, so why not here in SA?”

THE WORLD’S BEST BRITISH LONDON DRY GIN ARRIVES IN SOUTH AFRICA Thomas Dakin Small-Batch Gin, a classic style juniper-focused gin, known for its proud heritage and impressive craftmanship, is finally available in Mzansi. Thomas Dakin Small-Batch Gin is not a replicate of the original recipe but rather a tribute to the forefather of modern gin. It is a combination of the exotic spices exchanged along the Manchester-Warrington-Liverpool trade route in the 18th century and an assortment of contemporary homegrown British ingredients.

It is Master Distiller Joanne Moore’s homage to the past while remaining true to Dakin’s spirit of innovation.

Thomas Dakin Small-Batch Gin is still and made in a small-scale copper pot. It contains 11 botanicals including juniper, coriander (which we source from a local farmer in southern England) seed, cubebs, Angelica root, liquorice, sweet orange peel, grapefruit peel, and red cole (the 18th-century word for horseradish). It is the unusual addition of red cole that gives Thomas Dakin Small-Batch Gin its distinctive, award-winning, savoury character.

The gin is bottled in bespoke square bottles to represent the masculine, straight-talking nature of Thomas Dakin and to elevate the botanicals used in this top-quality recipe.

Thomas Dakin Small-Batch Gin boasts a distinct flavour profile as individual personalities emerge at different stages of the sipping journey. It tastes unique but also remains respectful to the fact that it is first and foremost juniper-focused gin.

For more information visit www.thomasdakin.com

For more information visit: www.trumanandorange.com

SAVANNA PREMIUM CIDER CHALLENGES THE CATEGORY WITH ITS NEW JUNIPER-FLAVOURED CIDER, SAVANNA JEAN Savanna has launched the first juniper-flavoured cider in the South African market, challenging category norms and innovating in line with evolving consumer needs and category trends. Savanna Jean offers a crisp apple taste with a hint of juniper berries and is bound to be a favourite among Savanna fans and new converts across the country.

Nowadays drinking craft spirits and cocktails is all about pageantry, pomp and circumstance. Savanna’s witty, playful and light-hearted take on this gentrified world shows the lovers of other juniper-infused drinks that you don’t need to drink Savanna Jean from a goblet filled with free-range blueberries at a pretentious artisan market in order to enjoy it.

“People like to feel fancy and they like to drink fancy. But fancy doesn’t have to be complicated.

All Savanna Jean needs is a slice of lemon in the neck for the perfect serve,” says Eugene Lenford, the marketing manager for Savanna at Distell.

The Savanna Jean name was consumergenerated in a number of research groups that the brand held before launching this new variant. Lenford notes, “Savanna Jean was the clear favourite for the name of our new juniper-flavoured cider in all of the research groups. I guess the name itself lands the unpretentiousness and the uncomplicated nature of the product. Here we say Jean. We are really excited for South Africans to try our new Savanna Jean, the country’s first crisp, juniper-flavoured cider.”

For more information visit: www.savannacider.com

36

TAVERN REVIEWS

www.spotongmag.co.za

NTHA TAVERN REVIEWS NDABEZITHA’S PLACE

D’HIPPO PALACE Owner: Samuel Sithole Organisation: NTHA

Owner: Florah Masiya Organisation: NTHA

How did you get into the tavern trade?

How did you get into the tavern trade?

I started my tavern three years ago. I was retrenched from my job and used my payout to start the tavern.

What challenges do you face in this industry?

My challenge is with the big suppliers.

They make promises but don’t deliver on them. At the moment I am struggling with cold storage which has been promised to me by a major supplier because I buy lots of stock from them.

I cannot serve warm beers and I have been waiting forever for another cold storage unit. I must commend Distell though who have always delivered on their promises to me and who have assisted me greatly.

Do you have future plans for your tavern?

I am based on a busy main road so I am

thinking of renovating and adding an upstairs area as my tavern is growing very quickly because I am visible to everyone.

How do you give back to your community?

I give back to my community with the help of NTHA. We buy food and donate to schools on a monthly basis. I also own a butchery and I supply free meat products every three months to those in my community who support my businesses.

LOCATION: 10041 EISELEN STREET, DAVEYTON

SALTA TAVERN REVIEWS GRILLERS DEN

My main challenge is the harassment from police. I have been arrested before for no reason. I don’t understand why they harass me because I follow all the rules and my patrons are peaceful and my tavern doesn’t trouble anyone.

Do you have future plans for your tavern?

I want to add to my menu by selling more brands of liquor so I can offer a bigger variety of drinks to my

patrons. There is so much to learn, like making different cocktails, and I am looking forward to educating myself on that and implementing it in my business.

How do you give back to your community?

I am a traditional healer and I heal the members of my community who come to me for help.

LOCATION: 404 THEMBELIHLE STREET, ETWATWA, DAVEYTON

SPORT’S BAR

How did you get into the tavern trade?

How did you get into the tavern trade?

I was previously employed as a barman at a bar in Sandton. I learnt so much being behind that bar counter that I decided to start my own tavern in 2007 because I had the skills to make it a success.

I started by selling cigarettes and umqombothi and my regular customers asked me to supply them with beer as well. I applied for a permit and started selling in 2016 with two cases of Castle Lager that I purchased.

What challenges do you face in this industry?

What challenges do you face in this industry?

space for everyone.

My main challenge is the harassment that I face from the police on a regular basis. It is particularly bad in my area and it seems as if they target me. I wish it would stop so that I can continue trading in peace.

How do you give back to your community?

I serve so many patrons that I am thinking of converting my tavern into a double-storey so there is more

What challenges do you face in this industry?

Owner: Peter Poen Organisation: SALTA

Owner: Puseletso Thwala Organisation: SALTA

Do you have future plans for your tavern?

I started my tavern in 2006. I had no husband and no income and I was all alone. I am proud to have started this business from scratch all by myself.

When there is a funeral in my community, I assist by providing tents, chairs, crockery and pots and I do the catering from start to finish. I also enjoy feeding the less fortunate in my community, especially kids. I make sure that nobody goes hungry in my area.

LOCATION: 1086 FINCH STREET, EXT 10, EBONY PARK

I don’t really have challenges and I enjoy this industry but Covid-19 has brought many challenges recently because I am unable to operate and earn a living.

Do you have future plans for your tavern?

Yes, I was actually planning on opening a food shop next to my tavern in the week that South Africa went into lockdown. My plan is to open as soon as lockdown ends and I will then offer my patrons more than

alcoholic beverages.

How do you give back to your community?

I contribute to my community by assisting with funerals, whether they need money to bury their loved ones or food donations. I am also very proud of the contribution I make to our local community soccer teams. I assist with paying for soccer gear and certificates and am a proud sponsor of our local ladies team, Ebony Park Angels.

LOCATION: 1640 HLOKOHLOKO STREET, EXT 3, EBONY PARK

TAVERN REVIEWS

Issue 33

GLF TAVERN REVIEWS RHUMBA’S TAVERN

How did you get into the tavern trade?

I started with a tuckshop in 2011 selling sweets, bread and eggs to the locals. My customers actually approached me and asked me to consider selling cold beers and I started with one case and it grew very quickly from there because the demand for beer was so great.

How did you get into the tavern trade?

Describe a typical day at your tavern?

A typical day at my tavern would be starting the day by preparing mogodu, Russians and fish and chips for my patrons. I then make sure that the TVs are on, the pool tables are clean and ready and music will be playing to get the patrons in a good mood as they arrive. If there is live soccer being played on the day, I make sure to put my projector on for the soccer fans. I make sure that everything is wiped down and tidy and we all enjoy ourselves.

MOSS REFRESHMENTS Owner: Veronica Moss Organisation: GLF

Owner: Sipho Mkwanazi Organisation: GLF

I got into the liquor industry in 1989. It was my father’s tavern and I took over running the tavern when he passed on. I am proud to have continued and grown my family business.

37

Do you have future plans for your tavern?

What challenges do you face in this industry?

Yes, I have so many patrons that I think it’s time to extend the tavern to create more space.

My main challenge is that I struggle to relax and unwind because I have to jump from attending to my patrons’ needs to my family’s needs because the business and my home are at the same address. I am always busy!

How do you give back to your community?

At the end of every month, I give free drinks to my community members as a way of thanking them for their support. I also assist if anyone is in need of transport and loan money to those who are struggling.

LOCATION: 6278 LE-FULI CRESCENT, EXT 9, VOSLOORUS

Do you have future plans for your tavern?

I want to add a shisanyama or restaurant to the tavern and use my entire property for business use only. That would mean relocating my family home and living separately

from my business premises. I have also recently applied for a temporary spaza shop permit so I can sell basic food items and cigarettes to the locals during the Covid-19 pandemic so they don’t have to risk getting sick when leaving our community to get what they need.

How do you give back to your community?

I give back to my community through my contributions to The Gauteng Liquor Forum and with the different initiatives that we, as an organisation, host throughout the year.

LOCATION: 5157 MBONANE ROAD, EXT 2, VOSLOORUS

38

TAVERN REVIEWS: CLUB 10

www.spotongmag.co.za

LIQUOR INVENTORY

Issue 33

ESSENTIAL

FOUR COUSINS NATURAL SWEET WHITE WINE

LIQUOR STOCK

A sweet white wine, blended from white cultivars and grape juice. Aromatic, deliciously fruity wine with muscat tones.

A wine for everyday enjoyment. The perfect sundowner in summer. Enjoy as an apéritif, with spicy oriental food, fruit and desserts. www.fourcousins.co.za

SAVANNA DRY PREMIUM CIDER

KILBEGGAN IRISH WHISKEY

Savanna Dry is available across South Africa in a 330ml and 500ml bottle and its unrivalled taste is amplified simply with a lemon wedge in the neck. www.savannacider.com

GUINNESS DRAUGHT Rich and creamy. Distinctively black. Velvety in its finish.

This iconic beer is defined by harmony. Sip after sip, sweet counters bitter as the malt arrives on cue to complement a base of roasted barley. Just as the unmistakable white head sits flush atop the dark beer, so do the flavours counter and combine perfectly. This is our greatest innovation. Truly unique. Perfectly balanced. Made of more. www.guinness.com

A double distilled blended whiskey, Kilbeggan manages to be both complex and approachable at the same time, making it the ideal introduction for those exploring the world of Irish whiskey. Its double distillation gives it a robust profile with more character than blends that are triple distilled. Warm and accessible as the people who create it, Kilbeggan is the perfect complement to just about any mixer and can be enjoyed with cola, ginger ale or soda, or as a stand-alone shot. www.kilbegganwhiskey.com

MAGNERS PEAR IRISH CIDER

ROYAL FLUSH PREMIUM GIN

Pressed purely from premium pears.

A distinctive character and a delicately refreshing taste of pears. Sweet and dry on the finish. Light straw yellow colour with a fresh and fruity style. www.magners.com

PROPER NO. TWELVE Proper No. Twelve’s Triple Distilled Irish Whiskey is an ultra-smooth blend of golden grain and single malt with hints of vanilla, honey and toasted wood for a rich complexity. www.properwhiskey.com

PADDY WHISKEY The product of three classic Irish approaches to whiskey distillation, Paddy has the distinction of blending grain, malt and potstill into a single smooth spirit.

Each component contributes subtle flavourings to achieve a uniquely smooth result. The grain offers a light floral touch of crisp sweetness. The malt augments the sweetness with a slight note of toasted biscuit and the potstill brings the traditional Irish creaminess – with but a breath of spice, honey and vanilla. www.paddywhiskey.com

HOOCH Hooch is not just a drink. Hooch is an attitude. Since 1997 the brightly coloured beverage has outlasted countless fads and trends, inspiring creative individuals to be true to themselves and be original, no matter what. Hooch is the original ready-to-drink with a sweet side and is available in four exciting flavours: Blackcurrant, Apple, Strawberry & Pineapple. www.kwv.co.za

YELLOW SPOT WHISKEY The Yellow Spot name was derived from the Mitchell’s practice of marking its maturing casks of whiskey with a mark or daub of coloured paint to determine the age potential of the whiskey. A blue spot denoted an 8-year-old, a green spot a 10-year-old, a yellow spot a 12-year-old, and a red spot a 15-year-old. www.spotwhiskey.com

39

Royal Flush imported gin is made from hand-selected French wheat, blended with pure water and distilled five times creating a smooth finish.

Gently infused with handselected botanicals resulting in a refreshingly crisp, smooth and perfectly balanced gin.

Bartenders’ perfect G&T is served with tonic water over crushed ice and garnished with lime. www.facebook.com/royalflushgin

SMIRNOFF DOUBLE BLACK Smirnoff Double Black is a clean vodka that delivers on all that you expect from the Smirnoff name.

Odourless, colourless and tasteless with an easy finish, Smirnoff Double Black is great for making cocktails, shots or party punches with an extra kick! www.smirnoff.com

One pot, one pan, one dish!

Chicken and rice recipes with South Africa’s favourite Spekko Rice

Cream of chicken and rice soup Serves 8 Cooking time: 15 minutes This warming winter soup is from chef Khaya Silingile and is also a great addition to the menu of any tavern. It is budget-friendly and very, very tasty.

Ingredients: • 15ml (1 tbsp) olive oil • 500ml (2 cups) mushrooms, sliced • ¾ cup chopped celery • ¾ cup chopped carrots • ¼ cup chopped onion • ¼ cup cake flour • ¼ tsp salt • ¼ tsp freshly ground pepper • 8 cups chicken stock • 2 cups cooked Spekko Long Grain Parboiled Rice • 3 cups shredded cooked chicken • ½ cup sour cream • 30ml (2 tbsp) chopped fresh parsley

Method: 1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.

2. Add mushrooms, celery, carrots and shallots and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add flour, salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes more.

3. Add stock and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits. Add rice and reduce heat to a simmer.

4. Stir in chicken, sour cream and parsley and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes more.

From the Spekko kitchen: Leftover chicken works well in this recipe. Any Spekko Rice variant can be used in this recipe – or use leftover cooked rice.

Baked Moroccan rice with chicken Serves 4 Cooking time: 60 minutes This rice is first baked in the oven and the cooked chicken is added later.

Ingredients: • 2 tbsp olive oil • ¹⁄3 cup blanched whole almonds • 1 cup diced onion • ½ cup diced carrots • ½ tsp cinnamon • 1 cup Spekko Long Grain Parboiled Rice • 4 cups chicken stock • ¹⁄3 cup sultanas or raisins • 30ml (2 tsp) orange zest (grated orange skin) • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper • 1 whole roast chicken, cut into portions • 30ml (2 tbsp) shredded fresh mint

Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C and grease a large baking dish.

2. In a large pan, heat the olive oil and sauté the almonds until they are golden and become fragrant, about 2 minutes.

3. Add the onions, carrots and cinnamon and stir well, cooking for 3 minutes. Add the rice and cook for 1 minute, stirring to make sure all the kernels are coated with oil.

4. Add the stock, raisins, orange zest and cayenne pepper and bring to a boil.

5. Place the mixture into the casserole or baking dish and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the rice from the oven and place the roasted chicken on top. Bake for 5 minutes to heat the chicken through.

6. Serve on a large platter garnished with the mint leaves.

Spekko tip for caterers: This is a really fragrant chicken dish that your customers will love. You can easily double this recipe.

One-pot chicken, rice and red speckled beans Serves 4 Cooking time: 45 minutes This budget-friendly family meal is warming and satisfyingly tasty. It was developed by chef Lentswe Bhengu for Spekko Rice.

Ingredients: • 15ml (1 tbsp) cooking oil • 4 chicken thighs • 4 chicken drumsticks • 1¾ tsp salt • ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper • 1 onion, finely chopped • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped • ½ of a 410g can chopped tomatoes • ½ red pepper, roughly chopped • 2 cups cooked IMBO red speckled beans • 250ml (1 cup) Spekko Long Grain Parboiled Rice • 4 cups water • 30ml (2 tbsp) chopped fresh parsley • a pinch of cayenne pepper • lime wedges to serve (optional)

One-pot fragrant chicken and rice casserole Serves 4 Prep time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 45 minutes This recipe comes from Spekko Rice’s archives and has proven to be a fantastic one-pot chicken dinner. It looks and tastes great.

Ingredients: • 30ml (2 tbsp) oil • 1 onion, chopped • 3 garlic cloves, crushed • 1 each green, yellow and red peppers, cut into strips • 8 chicken thighs, halved • 5ml (1 tsp) cumin • 5ml (1 tsp) paprika • 5ml (1 tsp) turmeric • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste • ¾ cup Spekko Long Grain Parboiled Rice • 410g can tomatoes peeled, chopped • 250ml (1 cup) chicken stock • 15ml (1 tbsp) tomato paste • chopped fresh parsley

Method: 1. Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot. Add the onion, garlic and peppers and sauté until the onion is soft.

2. Add the chicken pieces and brown.

3. Add the cumin, paprika, turmeric and salt and pepper and sauté for another minute or two.

4. Add the rice, tomatoes and stock. Bring to the boil. Lower the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes until the rice and chicken are cooked and the stock liquid has evaporated.

5. Stir the tomato paste and chopped parsley into the mixture. Cook for another 2 minutes, then serve.

Method: 1. Heat the oil in a large deep-frying pan.

2. Season the chicken with a ¼ teaspoon of the salt and the pepper and add to the pan. Cook, turning, until browned – about 8 minutes in all.

Set aside.

3. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat from the pan. Add the onion and sauté until soft.

Add the garlic and fry for another minute.

Add the tomatoes and red peppers. Scrape the bottom of the pan to dislodge any brown bits.

4. Stir in the beans, rice, water, parsley, the remaining 1½ teaspoons of salt, and the cayenne pepper. Arrange the chicken on top in an even layer.

5. Bring to a boil and simmer until all the water is absorbed, about 12 minutes. Turn the chicken and reduce the heat to very low. Cover and cook until the chicken and rice are just done, about 15 minutes longer.

Serve with the lime wedges, if using.

42

RECIPES

www.spotongmag.co.za

FOUR WAYS

WITH TOMATOES Tomato-based Rhodes Quality recipes, perfect for winter Did you know? Tomatoes are rich in natural vitamins and antioxidants, perfect to fight off those nasty winter bugs!

BEEF MEATBALLS IN CREAMY TOMATO SAUCE INGREDIENTS

METHOD

• 1kg beef mince • 1 clove garlic, crushed • 125ml (½ cup) onion, finely chopped or grated • 15ml (1 Tbsp) dry oregano • 125 ml (½ cup) dry breadcrumbs • 1 egg • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper • Oil for frying • 410g can Rhodes Quality Tomato and Onion mix • 200ml can coconut milk • 65ml (¼ cup) chopped basil leaves • To serve: grated Parmesan cheese, cooked pasta

• Place the beef mince, garlic, onion and dried oregano into a bowl.

• Add the breadcrumbs and egg and mix well.

• Season with salt and pepper and mix thoroughly.

• Divide the mixture evenly into 24 pieces and roll into balls.

• Heat the Rhodes Quality Tomato and Onion Mix in a non-stick frying pan.

• Add the coconut milk and bring the sauce back to a simmer.

• Add the meatballs to the sauce and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through.

• Season the sauce to taste and stir in the fresh basil.

• Sprinkle the cheese over the meatballs and serve with pasta.

WINTER BREAKFAST WITH BUTTER BEAN SHAKSHUKA, RHODES QUALITY STYLE INGREDIENTS • 410g can Rhodes Quality Tomatoes, Chopped & Peeled • 410g can Rhodes Quality Butter Beans • 4 large eggs • 30ml (2Tbsp) olive oil • 2 cloves garlic, crushed • 1 onion, chopped • 1 green pepper, seeded and chopped

• • • •

10ml (2tsp) smoked paprika 5ml (1tsp) ground cumin Salt and freshly cracked pepper 65ml (¼ cup) fresh parsley, chopped • To serve: fresh crusty bread

METHOD Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan.

Cook the garlic and onion until softened. Add the green pepper and fry for a few minutes more.

Add the Rhodes Quality tomatoes. Add the paprika and cumin and season to taste.

Simmer the sauce over a low heat until thickened.

Add the Rhodes Quality Butter Beans and simmer to heat through.

Make four wells in the tomato sauce and crack four eggs into the wells.

Cover with a lid and continue to simmer until the eggs are cooked to your liking.

Top with parsley and serve immediately with fresh bread.

RECIPES

Issue 33

43

BILTONG PIZZA WITH A SOUTH AFRICAN TWIST INGREDIENTS

TOPPING

• • • • • • •

• 410g can Rhodes Quality Chopped & Peeled Tomatoes with Mixed Herbs – perfect if you’re in a hurry • 410g can Rhodes Pineapple Pieces in Syrup, drained • 150g sliced biltong • 350g Mozzarella cheese, grated

Pizza dough 600g plain flour 10ml (2 tsp) salt 5ml (1 tsp) sugar 10g packet instant dry yeast 30ml (2 Tbsp) olive oil ± 400ml (1¾ cup) lukewarm water

METHOD Sift the flour, salt and sugar into a large bowl.

Sprinkle the yeast over the top and add the olive oil.

Add 250 ml (1 cup) warm water to the flour and work the mixture together.

Continue adding the remaining water, a little at a time, until the dough is soft yet firm and is kneadable without sticking.

EASY CHICKEN CHILLI INGREDIENTS

METHOD

• 45ml (3 Tbsp) sunflower oil

Heat the oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion until softened.

Knead the dough by hand for about ten minutes or until the dough is elastic and smooth.

• 1 onion

Form the dough into a ball and place in a floured bowl.

• 1 red pepper, seeded and diced

Cover with a damp cloth and place in a warm spot to rise until it has doubled in size.

• 1 yellow pepper, seeded and diced

Knock down with your fist and knead again.

• 5 ml (1 tsp) ground cumin

Divide into 4 equal balls.

• 2.5ml (½ tsp) dried red chilli flakes

Roll out the dough for the pizza bases and place on a lightly floured baking tray.

Spread a few tablespoons for the Rhodes Quality Chopped and Peeled Tomatoes with mixed herbs over each pizza base.

Top with the Rhodes Quality Pineapple Pieces, biltong and mozzarella cheese.

Bake the pizza in an oven preheated to 200˚C for about 20 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and the pizza topping golden.

• 2 cloves garlic, crushed

• 10ml (2 tsp) Pakco Hot Masala

• 410g can Rhodes Quality Whole Peeled Tomatoes

Add the garlic and fry for a few minutes more.

Add the peppers, the Pakco Hot Masala, cumin and chilli flakes.

Add the Rhodes Quality Whole Peeled Tomatoes and Rhodes Quality Tomato and Onion mix.

• 410g can Rhodes Quality Tomato and Onion Mix

Bring the sauce to the boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

• 4 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

Add the cooked, shredded chicken and heat through.

• Salt and freshly cracked black pepper • To serve: grated cheddar cheese, sour cream

Season to taste.

Serve topped with the cheddar cheese and sour cream.

44

RECIPES

www.spotongmag.co.za

WARM UP

YOUR WINTER

Stay warm with these awesome recipes courtesy of Excella

CHICKEN SAVOURY RICE

SHAKSHUKA

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS: OIL

• 700g boneless skinless chicken breasts chopped into chunks • 1 sweet onion, chopped • 1 green bell pepper, diced • 5 cloves garlic, minced • 425g can diced tomatoes • 1 cup uncooked Excella white rice

• • • • • •

2 cups chicken broth ¾ cup frozen green peas 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon dried thyme ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

• • • • • •

4 Tbsp Excella sunflower oil 1 onion, diced 2 garlic cloves, finely diced 1 green pepper, diced 1 red pepper, diced 600g fresh tomatoes, chopped

• • • • • • •

2 Tbsp tomato paste 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp sugar Salt and pepper 4-6 large eggs Handful fresh coriander

METHOD

METHOD 1. Heat butter in a large pot over medium heat, spreading the melting butter over the bottom of the pot. Add chicken and sauté until cooked on all sides, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add ham and stir with the chicken.

2. Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook until the onion turns translucent, a few minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Add diced tomatoes (including liquid), rice, chicken broth, thyme, paprika, and cayenne. Stir well.

4. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low.

Let simmer until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes.

5. Season with salt to taste. Stir in green peas. Optionally, garnish with chopped parsley.

1. Heat the Excella sunflower oil in a deep frying pan and add the onion, frying until nicely coloured. Add the garlic and cook for a bit, before adding the diced peppers.

2. Cook the peppers until tender, then add the tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar and spices. Bring to a simmer and cook for about half an hour until the sauce is nicely reduced, much like a pasta sauce. Season to taste and adjust spices.

3. Create dents in the tomato sauce for the eggs and gently crack an egg into each dent.

4. Cover and cook until the egg white has hardened, but the yolk is still nicely runny.

5. Sprinkle with fresh coriander and serve with crusty bread.

CREAMY RICE PUDDING Prep 25 min | Cook 20 min | Ready In 45 min INGREDIENTS • • • •

¾ cup uncooked white rice 2 cups milk, divided ¹⁄3 cup white sugar ¼ teaspoon salt

• • • •

1 egg, beaten ²⁄3 cup golden raisins 1 tablespoon butter ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

METHOD 1. Bring 1½ cups water to a boil in a saucepan; stir rice into boiling water.

Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.

2. In a clean saucepan, combine 1½ cups cooked rice, 1½ cups milk, sugar and salt. Cook over medium heat until thick and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes.

Stir in remaining ½ cup milk, beaten egg, and raisins; cook 2 minutes more, stirring constantly.

3. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.

Issue 32

BOOK EXTRACT

45

46

COCKTAIL RECIPES

www.spotongmag.co.za

COCKTAIL

CONCOCTIONS New mixes to try courtesy of Thomas Dakin Gin and Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition

TOM & TONIC INGREDIENTS: • 50ml Thomas Dakin Gin • 125ml Fever-Tree tonic water HOW TO MIX: Fill a tall glass with ice.

Pour in Thomas Dakin Gin. Top with Fever-Tree tonic water. Garnish with orange peel twist and a sprig of fresh coriander.

BEE’S KNEES

IPA AND TONIC

INGREDIENTS:

INGREDIENTS:

• 35ml Thomas Dakin Gin • 2 tsp honey • 25ml lemon juice

• • • •

HOW TO MIX: In a shaker, stir the honey with the Thomas Dakin gin until dissolved. Add the lemon juice. Shake or stir with ice.Strain into a Martini glass. Garnish with thin orange wheel float.

INGREDIENTS:

HOW TO MIX: Combine Thomas Dakin Gin, Campari and Sweet Vermouth in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with orange peel.

TOM AND MARY (RED SNAPPER STYLE)

INGREDIENTS:

INGREDIENTS:

• • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

50ml Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition 3 chunks fresh ginger 30ml honey 15ml lemon juice 15ml lime juice 70ml Chieftain IPA (India Pale Ale) beer

HOW TO MIX: Muddle 3 ginger chunks in the base of a Boston shaker before adding the Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition, honey, lemon and lime juice. Shake well before straining into a highball glass filled with cubed ice. Top up with Chieftain IPA and garnish with a twist of lemon peel and a sprig of fresh rosemary.

HOW TO MIX: Grab a glass. Fill it with ice. Pour in the Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition. Top up the glass with a good quality tonic water. Take a lemon wedge and drop it into the glass. Enjoy!

THOMAS DAKIN NEGRONI • 30ml Thomas Dakin Gin • 30ml Sweet Vermouth • 30ml Campari

GINGER BREW

50ml Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition Ice Tonic Water Lemon wedge

50ml Thomas Dakin Gin 120ml tomato juice 15ml lemon juice 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce ½ tsp Tabasco ½ tsp horseradish sauce 8 coriander leaves Splash of orange juice

HOW TO MIX: Combine and stir all ingredients over ice. Serve in a chilled highball glass. Top with a splash of orange juice. Garnish with a sprig of coriander, stick of celery and ground black pepper.

MR EARL INGREDIENTS: • • • • • • •

50ml Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition 35ml Earl Grey tea 10ml IPA syrup 15ml lemon juice 1 tsp marmalade 1 dash grapefruit bitters 1 dash orange bitters

HOW TO MIX: Combine all the ingredients into a shaker.

Shake and double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a wheel of dried grapefruit.

Issue 31

LIQUOR INVENTORY

47

48

TECHNOLOGY

www.spotongmag.co.za

NUPAY MAKES MICROFINANCE

A BREEZE T

he microfinance industry in South Africa is extremely important to many South Africans who are unable to receive loans from banks. The payment stream in South Africa used predominantly by NuPay is the early debit order (EDO) stream.

Enter NuCard, which is a prefunded card, like a gift card, which a merchant can use and provide to their customers. A merchant can simply load funds on the NuCard, which can be used for purchases at any outlet that processes electronic payments and can also be used for cash withdrawals at any ATM.

NuPay is the largest authenticated early debit order (AEDO) service provider in the world. We have 65% market share of all AEDO transactions in South Africa. Our merchants can load futuredated transactions on a client’s bank account by registering a contract using a terminal that we provide. What makes this product unique is that AEDO is non-disputable and non-reversible, as the client must swipe or dip their card and insert their PIN into the terminal to authenticate the transaction.

You can also extend the safety of electronic transacting to your employees with NuCard.

NuCard can be used to load weekly wages onto a card issued to employees. This is a simple, effective, secure means of payment that utilises a card and PIN much like a bank-issued debit card for the unbanked.

South Africa has a crime problem. In the 2017/2018 financial year, 20 047 robberies at non-residential premises were recorded. For 81.8 % of all robberies reported in this period, cash was the targeted item (based on information from the 2019 SAPS crime report). While these statistics highlight the risk faced by small businesses, there are ways to mitigate the risk these businesses face in regard to cash handling.

One of the most strategic solutions to implement would be to change from cash transactions to electronic payments. Not only does this discourage crime, as businesses will not be forced to keep cash on hand at their premises, but it also provides a cost benefit when the cost of cash deposits is considered, as well as saving time.

Considering South Africa’s economic climate, it would be prudent for small businesses to consider the financial saving of avoiding cash deposit fees, currently R2 per R100. A single deposit of R10 000 costs the average business R200. Depositing this amount twice a week would cost your business R1 600 a month.

Coupled with the risk of transporting cash and the time spent away from the business, electronic payment solutions provide a cost saving, are time efficient and a safe solution for all small businesses. Removing the risk of cash fraud within your business is also a benefit of electronic payment processing.

NuPay has a wide offering of products that address the unique needs of the South African small business. The NuPay point of sale (POS) machine provides businesses with an electronic platform where customers can use a normal debit or credit card to pay for goods or services. The

funds are deducted from the customer’s bank account and are settled daily into your business’ bank account. The NuPay POS system can be used within almost any type of retail environment. This allows your business to process straight, or budget credit card transactions as well as real-time debit card transactions. Further extend the security of electronic transacting to your customers by eliminating the need for customers to have cash on hand in order to pay for goods or services at your premises.

In an environment where multiple point of sale devices are in use, you are easily able to identify the origin of a transaction by a unique device ID that is assigned to each of our point of sale devices.

This allows for cashier identification and accurate reconciliation for each point of sale device.

NuPay also provides secure transacting on the move with our NuPayGO device. This is a mobile point of sale device (mPOS), paired via Bluetooth with a smartphone or tablet, that allows for card processing, anywhere, at any time. NuPayGO eliminates the need to accept cash payments when your business is exhibiting at a temporary pop-up location or industry convention. You will still be able to provide proof of payment to customers via SMS or email directly from the NuPayGO App. The NuPayGO App also offers flexible realtime reporting to keep track of your transactions anywhere at any time.

The NuPay product range further extends into a loan management system for our merchants.

This system helps our merchants with the day to day running of their business by providing loan feasibility and interest calculations, repayment options, etc. This also assists the cash lender to comply with the National Credit Regulator.

In a small business environment where repeat payments are made in lieu of goods and services,uPay offers comprehensive reporting and payment allocation tools. This allows your business to build a database of all returning clients and their payment patterns.

In terms of support, NuPay provides on-site training and support via our national 24 hour/365 days contact centre. We provide expert on-site support as well as account managers who will ensure that your business is able to make the most of NuPay’s solutions to suit your business needs. With our national reach, we can provide our services throughout South Africa.

Join NuPay in safeguarding the cashflow of your business, employees and customers.

Issue 33

TECHNOLOGY

49

50

COVID-19 ASSISTANCE

www.spotongmag.co.za

ESSENTIAL FINANCIAL GUIDELINES TO ASSIST SOUTH AFRICAN CONSUMERS Take charge of your finances as we navigate Covid-19

T

he Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has issued some essential guidelines to assist South Africans to take greater charge of their finances and be responsible when making financial decisions that will impact their lives during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lyndwill Clarke, the head of department for consumer education at the FSCA, says that with Covid-19 has come a heightened anxiety about people’s current financial situation, their investments and their future earnings. “Many South Africans don’t have savings or investments and may already be heavily indebted.

This is a dire situation for hundreds of thousands of South Africans that will only be made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic. People also need to be more mindful during this time about their policy contracts and to not make sudden irresponsible financial decisions out of panic without doing the necessary background checks and assessments.”

The following are some immediate guidelines that the FSCA says can be applied: 1. Read and understand your insurance policy contract, to assess what you are covered for and what is excluded. You may want to clarify the following issues with your insurer: • The terms and conditions of your policy.

• Unemployment definition.

• Exclusions/Inclusions with regard to Covid-19.

• What classifies as a “lifestyle protector” or dread disease cover?

• Grace periods for payment.

• When will my policy lapse and what can I do to avoid it?

• The implications of a paid-up policy.

• The implications of surrendering your policy.

• “Act of God” or “force majeure” provisions or pandemic exclusions.

• Methods of payment during the lockdown.

• Business interruption Insurance.

• How can I consolidate my portfolio to save money during this time, e.g. placing all my funeral policies under one cover?

• Travel insurance: inclusions/ exclusions e.g. trip cancellations, trip interruptions, insurance for future travel.

2. Ensure that you understand any new financial product(s) related to Covid-19 being marketed and sold, and whether these suit your actual needs.

Find out if any additional actions, like taking a blood test, are required for the new product and how this will be managed in the lockdown period.

3. Many banks have announced a debt-relief package on loans to persons and businesses during the national state of disaster. Contact your bank to discuss whether you qualify for a so-called “bank holiday” package. Ask questions such as: • What are the terms and conditions of the package?

• What does “good standing” mean?

• What will my repayments look like after the “holiday”?

• How will all of this affect my credit score?

• How much additional interest will accrue?

• What additional non-interest fees will be charged?

• Check if you are opted in or out of these packages (and if opted in – check how this will assist you in the long term).

4. Check with your bank or credit provider if you have a credit insurance policy and see what it covers. It may cover you if you stop earning an income from your employer, become unemployed or if you are retrenched. You might not have to apply for debt relief if your credit insurance policy covers your debt for a period.

5. Avoid exhausting all your emergency funds in the lockdown period. Be aware of what your needs and wants are during this time and only purchase what is essential.

Do not panic buy!

6. Do not make rash investment decisions.

Speak to or contact your financial advisor or an authorised financial services provider, before making any decisions about your savings, investments and insurance.

7. If you belong to a retirement fund, look out for communications from the board of your fund or the fund administrator regarding developments and risk management strategies with respect to Covid-19. Be sure that you understand all the risks that go along with premature withdrawal of your benefits.

8. To avoid the risk of further spread of Covid-19, pay your premiums and instalments electronically where possible. Speak to your bank about what options are available, such as mobile apps. Should this not be possible, practice social distancing: stand at least one metre apart when queueing to pay your account.

Social distancing should be practised when queueing for any matter.

Money Smart Week (MSWSA), an initiative of the FSCA along with other stakeholders, was due to be held at the end of March, but has been postponed until later in 2020. Look out for more details about this national campaign at aimed at motivating and empowering South Africans to become more educated about their finances.

Go to www.mswsa.co.za for more details.

Contact the FSCA at 0800 20 FSCA (0800 20 3722), CED. Consumer@fsca.co.za or info@fsca.co.za or go to www.fscamymoney.co.za

COMPLIANCE

Issue 33

51

THE CIPC’S NEW

COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST Find out why all companies must comply

By Madelein Burger, Elodie Maume, Cindy Leibowitz and Marina Hodgkinson at Webber Wentzel

T

he Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has introduced a new requirement for all South African companies to declare their compliance with specific sections of the Companies Act 2008 by completing and submitting a compliance checklist online. The new requirement came into force on 1 January 2020 and requires companies to submit their compliance checklist before they can file their annual returns.

What is the purpose of the compliance checklist?

It is a requirement of the Act that companies file an annual return in the prescribed form within the prescribed period. But neither the Act nor the regulations to the Act require companies to file a compliance checklist. This new requirement has been set by the CIPC. Companies have questioned the purpose of the compliance checklist and are concerned that compliance will be burdensome.

The purpose of the compliance checklist, according to the CIPC, is to ensure compliance with the mandatory requirements of the Act. The CIPC also states that the compliance checklist will serve as

an educational tool for directors and company secretaries, guiding them with regards to their responsibilities in terms of the Companies Act. The checklist contains a list of 24 questions, which a company is required to answer by “yes”, “no” or “not applicable”. A company is required to consider each question in relation to its business activities during the preceding calendar year. The list of questions can be found online. The questions do not provide any detail about the relevant sections of the Act and merely state the number of the sections. In addition, companies are not given an opportunity to provide commentary or an explanation for their answers. This would arguably discourage a company from answering with a “no”. It is also unclear how the CIPC will assess answers from companies without being given any background information. The usefulness of the checklist in its current format is questionable.

Who will need to complete a compliance checklist and by when does it need to be submitted?

The new requirement will apply to all personal liability, private, public, state-owned and nonprofit companies. Companies must complete and submit their compliance checklist before they can file their annual returns. Companies will, therefore, need to check when their annual return is due and put processes in place to make sure that their compliance checklist is submitted before this date.

This gives rise to some practical challenges.

Annual returns must be filed within 30 business days after the anniversary date of the company’s date of incorporation, together with a copy of the company’s annual financial statements or financial accountability statements. The financial statements submitted with the annual return normally represent the financial position of the previous financial year (as a company’s financial year-end does not necessarily coincide with the date of filing of its annual return). This could lead to a mismatch in financial and compliance reporting periods and requires clarification from the CIPC.

What are the consequences of not submitting the compliance checklist?

The CIPC intends to use the compliance checklist

to monitor and regulate proper compliance with the Act and has stated that if it identifies trends of non-compliance, it will “act accordingly”. It is unclear that will entail.

The CIPC had originally indicated that if a company fails to complete the compliance checklist, it will not be able to submit its annual returns. Failure to file annual return results in the company incurring penalties, and eventual de-registration (if annual returns have not been completed for two consecutive years). However, the compliance checklist e-service available on the CIPC website has not (yet) been linked to the e-service for filing of annual returns.

Companies are therefore still able to file their annual returns without filing their compliance checklist first. Accordingly, it is unclear how the CIPC will stop companies from filing their annual returns without filing their compliance checklist first.

What are the consequences of submitting incorrect information in the compliance checklist?

If a person knowingly provides incorrect information to the CIPC, that is an offence and could lead to a fine or to imprisonment for up to 12 months or both. The Act defines the term “knowingly” very broadly. It not only includes actual knowledge but also where a person reasonably ought to have investigated the matter further. In light of the broad definition of the term “knowingly”, a person may be held liable for negligently or accidentally completing the compliance checklist incorrectly.

Ensuring accurate completion of the checklist may prove to be challenging when one considers that the checklist covers an extensive portion of the Act and regulations to the Act. From a practical perspective, it will require input fçrom various people at the company, from the directors to the company secretary (if the company has appointed one) and accountants or auditors. It is therefore essential for businesses and their officers to have a working knowledge and reasonable understanding of the Act and regulations to the Act and to put processes in place to check for compliance. If a company does not have internal resources to do this, they may need to hire a professional. If you do not have a working knowledge or reasonable understanding of the Act, you may have difficulty completing the checklist.

The proposed format of the compliance checklist issued by the CIPC is vague and requires further clarification. In the meantime, companies must take care to avoid sanctions for non-compliance.

Webber Wentzel is working on a guide to assist it in advising companies in ensuring compliance with these new requirements.

52

HEALTH

www.spotongmag.co.za

STRENGTHEN YOUR DEFENCE

AGAINST COVID-19!

The best way is by boosting your immune system

By Catherine Clark, owner and founder of The Harvest Table

T

he Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents many uncertainties, and none of us can completely eliminate our risk of getting it, but one thing we can do is take the necessary precautions.

If we do catch COVID-19, our immune system is responsible for fighting it. By boosting our immune system, we can keep strong and healthy, and in so doing, strengthen our defence against the global pandemic in which we find ourselves.

“Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have been given a lot of sound advice on how to combat this dreaded disease – from practising social distancing to sanitising our hands frequently. But not much airtime has been given to how to boost our immune systems. After all, if we are exposed to the virus, we need our bodies to be able to fight back!” says Catherine Clark, owner and founder of The Harvest Table.

She adds that according to the US’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease, are at higher risk for more serious COVID-19 illness. “This makes sense because as we age our immune systems grow weaker, which makes it more challenging for older adults to fight off infectious diseases. On the other hand, chronic diseases can compromise the immune system,

and make people more vulnerable to serious complications.”

Catherine offers five ways to strengthen your defence against COVID-19 and boost your immune system: Hit snooze on that panic button: When you stressed, your immune system’s ability to fight off antigens is reduced, making you more susceptible to infections. So, if you feeling a little stressed, consciously take time out to employ some calming or relaxing stress-reduction techniques.

Look after your gut: Did you know that good immunity starts in your gut? Consider adding bone broth to your diet as it ensures a well-functioning digestive system as it is said to seal up holes, healing the lining, and nourishing the gut with important nutrients. You can make your own bone broth or buy Bone Broth powder which you can add to everything from soups and stews to water and even your morning coffee!

Consume immune-boosting vitamins: Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin well known for its role in supporting a healthy immune system. Consider eating foods rich in vitamin C like oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, kale and broccoli. Alternatively, you can supplement with Blueberry Powder (freeze- dried blueberries) which is packed full of

vitamin C and antioxidants, making this booster pure dynamite. Be wary of synthetic vitamin C supplements that could upset your system. Rather look for natural sources.

Take anti-viral supplements: The antiviral properties of Maitake mushrooms (a mushroom that grows wild in parts of Japan, China and North America) were confirmed by the National Cancer Institute and the Japan Institute of Health in 1992.

Maitake mushrooms are rich in antioxidants, betaglucans, vitamins B and C, copper, potassium, fibre, minerals and amino acids and are known for their positive overall effect on immunity.

Modulate your immune system: This means the regulatory adjustment of the immune system.

Astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant carotenoid, plays a major role in modulating the immune response. Astaxanthin is found in a product known as Collagen X and is 6 000 times stronger than vitamin C in terms of its antioxidant properties.

“While the above suggestions are not guaranteed to prevent you from contracting the virus, they are certainly ways you can keep your body in tiptop shape and ready face and fight whatever comes its way,” says Catherine. “In addition to supplementing your diet, continue to implement all you’ve been taught about sanitisation and social distancing and together we can weather the COVID-19 storm.”

STOKVELS

Issue 31

53

GOOD DEBT VS BAD DEBT Create more wealth with the Nala Club Account for your stokvel

D

ebt can feel like a weight on your back when you have more to repay than you earn. But not all debt is bad. In fact, having no debt at all (meaning no credit record) could actually count against you when it comes to applying for a personal loan, home loan or vehicle finance, for example.

Some examples of good debt are home loans, student loans and business loans. However, there are no guarantees and you should always be cautious when going into debt, especially in South Africa’s current economic climate. For example, paying off your student loan might be difficult if you’re unable to secure full-time employment.

This is why managing your debt and knowing the difference between good and bad debt is important.

Proper debt management could help improve your life, your credit score and ultimately even help you create wealth - if you work wisely with what you borrow and use it to make more money.

Bad debt adds stress to your financial situation and slows down your progress

This is where the concept of good debt vs bad debt comes into play.

Bad debt is often associated with impulse purchases.

If you are in the habit of buying day-to-day items such as foods and disposable products or paying your daily bills using credit, it can very quickly lead you into a situation where you are overcome by bad debt.

A few examples of bad debt are:

Good debt takes you forward financially

5. Using your credit to purchase luxury items that you can’t really afford.

So what is good debt? Good debt is an investment in your financial future. It helps to create a firm foundation and could even help improve your future earning potential. Before taking out a loan and going into debt, ask yourself these questions:

6. Taking out one-month loans from unregulated institutions to finance an immediate need.

7. Buying clothes and other items on clothing store accounts (which usually have very high interest rates).

1. Is this the most affordable loan/option available to me?

Grey area

2. What is the interest rate? (Lowest interest rates are not always the best option – sometimes a low interest rate comes with high charges at the end of the term, so do your research.)

Too much debt, whether it’s “good” or “bad”, can quickly add up. If not managed properly, even good debt can become bad debt and may even lead to forced debt counselling. Below are a few grey areas:

3. What are the repayment terms? Can I really afford it?

Credit cards can be used to finance large expenses and there’s no doubt that they can be useful, as long as you pay off the balance each month.

4. What are the charges, including hidden charges?

However, credit cards also often come with a high interest rate and you could be in trouble if you allow it to build up.

Vehicle finance can be good or bad debt. If you need a car to help you earn income and you can manage the monthly repayments as well as associated costs like insurance and petrol, vehicle finance would be good debt. However, a new car loses value as soon as you drive away in it, so it is wise to rather consider buying a demo model or a used car. Whatever you decide, make sure it fits into your monthly budget.

Borrowing money to get out of debt is not usually a good decision. However, consolidating your debt can sometimes be a simpler way to manage your money when your goal is to regain financial stability.

One of the trusted ways for South Africans to borrow money traditionally has been from their stokvels. This could be for any number of reasons and now StokFella is bringing you the option to borrow from stokvels in a seamless, easy way that will save you money, provide transparency and ultimately create more wealth for your stokvel club in the long run. With just good saving behaviour, your stokvel can qualify for a loan of R1000 to R20 000 when it saves with a Nala Club Account on StokFella. Plus, your stokvel earns income from your loan. Why borrow money from a bank when you can borrow it from your own “bank”? Get in touch with us today if you would like to know more. StokFella is a licensed FSP 48812 and Credit Provider NCRCP12735. Ts & Cs apply.