8 July 2011
9
Bulletin
New police cluster commander wants safe streets Cassandra Mongatane cassandra@bulletin.us.com
“The criminals must watch out, we are coming for them and we will be harsh,” says General Khombomini Maggy Mathebula. Mathebula is not new to the police. Her experience goes back to 1988 when she started her police career in the Soweto Flying Squad. From there she moved to Tzaneen for five years. She then moved up the ranks and became the Station Commander in Modjadjiskloof. In 2005 she was promoted to crime prevention coordinator for the Mopani district. Two months later her skills were needed in Musina and she was transferred there as crime prevention coordinator. In 2008 she was promoted to provincial head of Limpopo’s crime prevention office.
After a good two year service to the people of Limpopo, she was transferred to the Western Cape as the cluster commander in Worcester — and she was promoted to the rank of major general. Mathebula is no stranger to Tzaneen; she is a local girl, born in Mamitwa. She says she doesn’t bring changes, but she has identified key problems in the area. She will be focusing more on rape issues, especially at Ritavi and Bolobedu. “My aim is to make sure that rape cases are dealt with, especially
when it comes to young children. “I would like to see the streets safe for all and also to ensure that the police of this area provide good service to the people.” She believes that the community should play a role in making sure that service delivery is excellent. She hopes that the community will help the police in ensuring that the area is safe by communicating with the police. “I have a message for the youth: you should know that you live once and every moment comes once. Do not misuse your opportu-
nities by giving in to crime. Even though you might be educated a criminal record can ruin your chances of becoming a successful generation.” The youth that are interested in helping not only the police but the community with crime prevention issues are welcome to go to their nearest police station, and ask for the crime prevention officer for more information, she says. In the past few years the police has established good relationships with other departments. General Mathebula hopes that the relationships will grow even more. As we said good-bye, the General reminds us to publish her cell phone number — 082 499 1969 — and to extend her invitation to the public to call her if they fail to get help from the police.
Mediclinic gets fresh new brand identity
South African private hospital group Mediclinic launched a crisp new brand identity. The revised Mediclinic brand depicts a lot more than a mere change of the corporation’s logo and visual identity. Instead it demonstrates the group’s commitment to align its past excellence to a brand that will continue to bring outstanding medical care to its patients — supported by deliberate scientific expertise — under a unified international umbrella. “Our aspiration as a company is to become an international hospital group, not simply a group of hospitals in different countries. A unified group model brings strength. For that reason the one brand we readily and unanimously chose, was Mediclinic. “We will no longer be Medi-Clinic Corporation, but instead Mediclinic International. We firmly believe that our new brand identity will become a living ethos that underpins the future success of our business,” states Dr Edwin Hertzog, chairman of the group since its formation in 1983. After strong growth in 2010, Mediclinic sees future opportunities in all its operational platforms — now only under the support of an orchestrated brand. The provision of a carefully-controlled environment — not only for patients, but also for medical practitioners — is pivotal to the group’s future business planning. As such, Mediclinic continues to invest significantly to maintain, upgrade and expand hospitals to improve the company’s global offering. “As a group we are confident that the direction and focus of the internationally focused brand will contribute to the profitability and sustainability of the group. “Although we remain three operating platforms with operations in Southern Africa, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates, we will function as an undeviating whole, while respecting each platform’s flexibility and local significance,” states Mr Danie Meintjes, CEO of Mediclinic International and chairman of Mediclinic Southern Africa. Mediclinic Southern Africa will remain truthful to its local context. The South African platform aims to position itself as the preferred acute care private hospital service provider of the future through continued recruitment and retention of world-class medical practitioners that will feed South Africa’s medical resource pipeline in the future. “Mediclinic Southern Africa will keep its focus on verifiable cost effective quality care and patient satisfaction. We believe recruiting and retaining top class medical
practitioners remains our strength. Our new brand rationale strengthens and supports our vision to help build a sustainable health future for South Africa,” states Mr Koert Pretorius, CEO of Mediclinic Southern Africa “We support the government’s policy to increase access to affordable quality healthcare services, and we are following with interest the process to develop a National Health Insurance (NHI) model for the country,” continues Pretorius. The fact that Mediclinic Southern Africa has the highest number of internationally accredited facilities in Southern Africa bodes well for the future. “Recent research indicates that 96% of patients would recommend the hospital group to friends and family and 97% of patients would also recommend the treating doctor. “And, with access to a large community of medical specialists through the group’s 68 hospitals and eight clinics, across three continents, patients will reap the benefits of our expertise. Locally, the placement of the right calibre personnel remains a key imperative to the company,” states Pretorius. “At any of the Mediclinic hospitals around the world, we want patients to feel that the brand is lived by all. Our main objective is to introduce patients to a carefully controlled environment, fashioned by a team of worldclass experts who can guide
them through a customised treatment process orchestrated to specifically deliver better outcomes,” says Meintjes. “Because we know our patients value our authority as much as our empathy, the Mediclinic brand seeks, at all times, a finely tuned balance between a scientific, expert-dominated approach and a considered, respectful human approach”. Biren Valodia, Chief Marketing Officer for Mediclinic Southern Africa says it is an exciting time to be part of an international brand, as it truly helps to build the group’s competitive edge and stimulates its presence in global markets. “Patients will recognise changes in their hospital from the exterior signage to the way they are welcomed at the door. We are getting rid of the clutter. Right from admission through finding their way inside the hospital, down to recovery and follow-up, we believe the new brand philosophy has the potential to transform and inspire our staff and delight our patients,” concludes Valodia.