Wellness Casual Day

Launched in 1995, Casual Day is an awareness and fundraising campaign benefiting the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD). Each year, South Africans are encouraged to dress up and

Casual Day 2022 took place on 2 September and AlcoNCP combined the occasion with a Wellness Day, presented in cooperation with Discovery Health. Employees took this year’s Casual Day theme of #icelebratesawithpersonswithdissabilites to heart and dressed up in the colours of the national flag.

During an interactive experience, various tests and health checks were performed by a wellness expert from Discovery Health. These included glucose and cholesterol tests, blood pressure readings, eye and postural assessments and BMI (Body Mass Index) measurements. A comprehensive report with advice on how to address certain risks was subsequently shared with the individual staff members.

Women’s Day: “Embrace change”

August is Women’s Month in South Africa with National Women’s Day on 9 August, celebrating the strength and resilience of women and their contribution to society and the country.AlcoNCP joins the celebrations each year, and 2022 was no exception. Following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, it was wonderful to once again come together and to re-awaken the company’s Women’s Day festivities. This year’s theme was “Transformation” and the journey every woman takes as she progresses from a little girl into womanhood. Siphokazi Majozi, production manager of secondary products at AlcoNCP, was the speaker at an interview-style Women’s Day function.

She shared some insight into her transformation journey and the different roles she’s played in her life, from mother to author to runner, who has attempted the Comrades marathon and writes a successful running blog. Siphokazi interviewed Janet Simpkins, an environmental activist who started Adopt-a-River Eco Solutions, a non-profit organisation focussing on community-based solutions to some of the river health issues in KwaZulu-Natal. Janet, who writes on her website that her desire is “to leave a better planet for my children and humanity to come”, had a clear message when speaking to Siphokazi - embrace change.

AlcoNCP have upped its health game to incorporate personalised health and fitness plans for employees. The Health and Fitness Initiative, in collaboration with coach Ilizme (May) Coetzee from May-Nia Fitness, will see the development of individual plans for registered employees. Coach May says the fitness programme will have a great impact and overall positive outcome. “The staff members have been amazing and very keen on bettering their lifestyle. From the check-in conversations held with some of the members, they all had a general issue with making time at home to train. But they have all been amazing at trying to find their way of staying active and pursuing their fitness goals.”

Risk and compliance manager Lorraine Mudaly: “A great number of staff have signed up for the programme. And the benefit is that coach May has worked out meal plans and home workouts. Now I have the flexibility to follow the programme in the comfort of my own home. A journey starts with the first step and it will take time to get there, with small steps. Set mini-goals to achieve the long-term goal.”

Procurement officer Nikita Ajodha: “My sessions with coach May have been awesome, I feel energized! I have missed a couple of sessions between having the flu and keeping up with work demands but I can say that it's made me realise that I need to do more for myself, in terms of exercise and nutrition. I have been able to make more conscious decisions about my nutrition and I find myself wanting to move more, taking the stairs instead of a lift, parking a little further from the entrance to a store, it’s the little things matter.”

Messenger Ntombi Tukwayo: “I found myself in a better mood, I think more clearly and remember better, my bones became stronger, and my body also responds better to insulin which lowers the risk of diabetes. Eating well helps to reduce the risk of physical health problems.”

Funds and creditors controller Xolile Mabaso: “I do enjoy Fitness Friday and I always look forward to it. I'm now flexible and able to breathe properly under any circumstances. The home exercises help a lot, I am having fun with my daughter when doing them.”

Quality technician Rashina Munsamy: “I have definitely noticed a huge impact on our training sessions. I feel more energetic than I ever have and I’m also getting more disciplined in my exercising. I feel I can now keep up with the busy lifestyle we lead.”

Mandela Day 2022: “It takes a village”

Mandela Day is celebrated each year on 18 July, the birthday of the former South African president, and is a testament to Madiba’s life and legacy. On Mandela Day, South Africans are encouraged to spend 67 minutes of their time in service to others in need. These 67 minutes are in appreciation of the 67 years Mandela spent fighting for justice, equality, and human rights for all. This year AlcoNCP celebrated Mandela Day with SAPS Greenwood Park during an outreach programme that included the local Community Policing Forum and Business Against Crime. Community Safety awareness flyers were handed out to members of the public at China Mall and Spar Browns Drift for 67 minutes.

On the day, Laduma spoke to bystanders at the two locations about the importance of community outreach initiatives on Mandela Day. The overall consensus was that crime doesn’t pay: “Drug abuse is very high in South Africa, it is very sad to see our brothers and sisters involved with something like this.

Engineering manager Morgan Murefu and financial executive Mark from AlcoNCP said it was great to finally step out for Mandela Day once again after the Covid-19 pandemic. “I feel connected to the human race once again. They say it takes a village to raise a child but it is more than just raising a child, it is bringing up a human being, and by doing this, we are really caring for one another. “We are all doing our bit in helping the police to let the community live responsibly.”