Normalising disabilities in the workplace

According to Rajan Naidoo, Managing Director of EduPower Skills Academy, the topic of disability is still fraught with stigma and shame, particularly in the workplace. He believes that companies have to change this mindset, and this starts with creating a culture that embraces diversity and promotes disability inclusion. “Disability inclusion is about far more than hiring people with disabilities. An inclusive workplace values all employees for their strengths and abilities. It offers employees with disabilities an equal opportunity to succeed, to learn, to be compensated fairly and to advance. True inclusion is about

embracing difference,” Naidoo explains..

As more than 80% of its

learners are People with Disabilities (PWD), EduPower is a leader and enabler of skills development for PWD’s. Based on actual experiences, Naidoo shares five actions that companies can apply to create a truly inclusive workforce:

PWD’s and their inclusion in the workplace are now part of the business agenda. Disability inclusion however needs top-level backing to become a company norm. Prove you’re committed to disability inclusion by making it a company policy. This can be a specific policy or the inclusion of disability as part of more general policies on anti-discrimination, diversity or human rights.

By recruiting PWD’s, you will not gain real skills, you will be able to support national policy and legislation such as Employment Equity and B-BBEE targets. In the skills development space, you can use learnerships to train PWD’s in the skills required by the business, preparing them for the world of work while also using the 12-month learnership as a screening process. You will be able to claim back the majority of the spend through the higher tax rebates for PWD learnerships and provided you are paying your Skills Development levy; you will be able to claim the Mandatory Grant too. In many cases, the rebates available mean that you can upskill your future PWD’s at zero cost.

You will need to prepare the work environment by making reasonable adjustments to accommodate your PWD’s needs. These could inc wlude modifying floorplans and equipment or the content of the job itself. You may also need to adjust working hours, work organisation and the work environment.

Analyse every step of your recruitment process to make sure there are no barriers for PWD’s. Adverts for jobs and learnerships should make it clear that you’ll provide reasonable accommodations for interviews and the job itself if needed. When it comes to the interview process, remember that your PWD candidates bring creativity, innovation, problem solving and commitment to the workplace so give them the opportunity to demonstrate these strengths.

The most effective way to promote inclusivity in your company is to empower and encourage all your people to champion the change. The more awareness and teamwork there is in supporting policy, the better the morale, wellbeing and productivity of all your employees. Your people may be apprehensive about someone in a wheelchair or who’s partially sighted in the office simply because of the stigma this carries in society. But guaranteed, when they start working worked together, the disability won’t be an issue. It’s about simply accepting each other as people who have a job to do. It’s about ability, not disability.

Including PWD’s and accommodating their disability-related needs are important moves for companies in terms of talent resourcing and compliance with legislation. Inclusion however is everyone’s responsibility and with your team’s commitment to eliminating the misconceptions and biases that hold PWD’s back, everything is possible.

Rajan Naidoo, Managing Director of EduPower Skills Academy

CEO Charmaine Mabuza CEO Charmaine Mabuza has been the catalyst has been the catalyst behind ITHUBA’S success story behind ITHUBA’S success story since it took over the South since it took over the South African National Lottery in 2015. African National Lottery in 2015.

Under Mabuza, the National Lottery has not only paid out a historic R232-million Under Mabuza, the National Lottery has not only paid out a historic R232-million jackpot, it has raised over R8 billion for good causes, and paid its retail partners jackpot, it has raised over R8 billion for good causes, and paid its retail partners commission of over R1.2 billion. ITHUBA’s significant strides in technological commission of over R1.2 billion. ITHUBA’s significant strides in technological advancement mean that millions of South Africans now have the opportunity to advancement mean that millions of South Africans now have the opportunity to seamlessly play the game, while the funds raised continue to make a positive seamlessly play the game, while the funds raised continue to make a positive difference in communities far and wide. difference in communities far and wide. The self-confessed media shy Mabuza boasts a long record of managerial and business positions. She has served on several The self-confessed media shy Mabuza boasts a long record of managerial and business positions. She has served on several boards, one being Women’s Investment Portfolio Holdings (Wiphold) – the first women-owned investment company to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, now worth R1.2 billion. Her other notable leadership positions are ones she holds as CEO and member of the Board of Directors of ITHUBA Holdings, Managing Director of the social grant distributor, Empilweni Payout Services, Deputy Chair of Mpumalanga Provincial University Council and Chair of the South African Board for Sheriffs, a regulatory board role she boards, one being Women’s Investment Portfolio Holdings (Wiphold) – the first women-owned investment company to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, now worth R1.2 billion. Her other notable leadership positions are ones she holds as CEO and member of the Board of Directors of ITHUBA Holdings, Managing Director of the social grant distributor, Empilweni Payout Services, Deputy Chair of Mpumalanga Provincial University Council and Chair of the South African Board for Sheriffs, a regulatory board role she held from 2016 with her term ending in 2021. held from 2016 with her term ending in 2021.Zamani Holdings was founded in 2008 as a Private Equity Investment business by Charmaine and Advocate Eric Mabuza. In Zamani Holdings was founded in 2008 as a Private Equity Investment business by Charmaine and Advocate Eric Mabuza. In 2013, the leadership of Zamani identified an opportunity to extend its strong management philosophy to providing a national service and as a result, ITHUBA came into existence. ITHUBA Holdings (RF) (PTY) LTD was created as a special purpose vehicle to bid for the licence to operate the South African National Lottery, under the leadership of CEO Charmaine Mabuza. Zamani’s strategic intent was 2013, the leadership of Zamani identified an opportunity to extend its strong management philosophy to providing a national service and as a result, ITHUBA came into existence. ITHUBA Holdings (RF) (PTY) LTD was created as a special purpose vehicle to bid for the licence to operate the South African National Lottery, under the leadership of CEO Charmaine Mabuza. Zamani’s strategic intent was positively met when ITHUBA was awarded the Third National Lottery Licence. positively met when ITHUBA was awarded the Third National Lottery Licence.

The vision that Mabuza has for ITHUBA is of a company that is not only profitable but which also places people at the forefront of its operations. “For ITHUBA, being awarded the National Lottery operating licence presented an opportunity to impact the lives of ordinary South Africans, who remain a priority of the company,” she says. ITHUBA is the first South African National Lottery Operator to be 100 percent black-owned. Furthermore, it is rare to have women in leadership positions within the gaming industry, so Mabuza is among a very small percentage of South African women who lead gaming companies and an even smaller percentage of women who lead such industries globally. Mabuza looks well ahead when it comes to meeting the rapidly changing needs of lottery players. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, she introduced a ground-breaking innovation that was a first on the African continent. This is the Random Number Generator system, which is a new method of drawing lottery numbers, replacing the out-dated ball machine method. “This method is operated with integrity and high systems security. This is the secret to the Operator’s success in sustaining the Lottery during the COVID-19 pandemic while other lotteries around the world have had to close down,” Mabuza says. “Technology has contributed tremendously to our success,” says Mabuza, citing ITHUBA’s digitised lottery. “We have a dedicated E-commerce team working remotely and we are fully equipped to assist players with digital gaming,” adds the problem-solving CEO. Accessibility is key, and this digital gaming technology means that lottery participants can purchase their tickets on the National Lottery Mobile App, the Lottery website and from the 135 000 handheld devices that are available countrywide. ITHUBA has partnered with the four major banks in South Africa, providing National Lottery products on their banking online platforms. With this initiative, ITHUBA has set a benchmark for lotteries across the globe. The hard work of Mabuza and her team has not gone unnoticed. In 2017, the World Lottery Association acknowledged ITHUBA as one of the top five performers globally, with a 9.2 percent increase in sales at the time. In 2020, the National Lottery accounted for R15 billion in winnings apart from the approximately R8 billion it gives away for good causes. Mabuza says these are monies that go back into the economy of the country. At ITHUBA, Mabuza leads a team of dynamic individuals who are all motivated by ITHUBA’s “best practice” and “hard work” ethics. In their work the members of the team are driven by ITHUBA’s core values of integrity, humility, tenacity and ubuntu. “Our organisation is all about the values we stand for and the culture of hard work. We give people an opportunity to thrive and to come up with creative ideas that elevate the business,” she says.

The vision that Mabuza has for ITHUBA is of a company that is not only profitable but which also places people at the forefront of its operations. “For ITHUBA, being awarded the National Lottery operating licence presented an opportunity to impact the lives of ordinary South Africans, who remain a priority of the company,” she says. In 2020, Forbes Woman Africa honoured Mabuza with their Social Impact Award. This award recognised Mabuza for her philanthropy, which has positively impacted the lives of South Africans for the past two decades. In 2019, Mabuza was awarded the Vision 2030 Top Woman in Education Award for ITHUBA is the first South African National Lottery Operator to be 100 percent black-owned. Furthermore, it is her role in affording access to education to disadvantaged youth through the Eric and Charmaine Mabuza Scholarship. rare to have women in leadership positions within the gaming industry, so Mabuza is among a very small percentage of South African women who lead gaming companies and an even smaller percentage of women who lead such industries globally. Among the countless other businesses and people who have benefitted from Mabuza’s initiatives is Mary-Jane Ngwane who is the founder of an IT consultancy. When Mary-Jane successfully applied for the Youth Enterprise Development Programme, her one-year-old company was struggling Mabuza looks well ahead when it comes to meeting the rapidly changing needs of lottery players. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, she introduced a ground-breaking innovation that was a first on the African continent. This is the financially. “I cannot put it in many words the skills and tools we learned in that programme. It has put my business in a better position to grow to a substantial company. And I really want to thank Mrs Mabuza and ITHUBA,” she says. Random Number Generator system, which is a new method of drawing lottery numbers, replacing the out-dated ball machine method. “This method is operated with integrity and high systems security. This is the secret to the Operator’s success in sustaining the Lottery during the COVID-19 pandemic while other lotteries around the world have had to close down,” Mabuza says. Mentorship is one of the most successful ways to nurture upcoming entrepreneurs and Mabuza considers it to be a crucial element of ITHUBA’s support.” We allocate a mentor to you and guide you on how to run your own business,” she says. Mabuza is future-sighted when it comes to her vision for economic growth and well known for her support of blackowned businesses, in particular those run by women and young “Technology has contributed tremendously to our success,” says Mabuza, citing ITHUBA’s digitised lottery. “We have a dedicated E-commerce team working remotely and we are fully equipped to assist players with digital gaming,” adds the problem-solving CEO. people, and ITHUBA has funded 82 black-owned enterprises. When the Covid-19 pandemic devastated small companies, ITHUBA came to their rescue as part of its Supplier and Enterprise Development Initiative. As ITHUBA Holdings Mabuza says they saw a need to “restart the economy and ensure that people continue with their businesses.” Accessibility is key, and this digital gaming technology means that lottery participants can purchase their tickets on the National Lottery Mobile App, the Lottery website and from the 135 000 handheld devices that are available countrywide. ITHUBA has partnered with the four major banks in South Africa, providing National Lottery products on their banking online platforms. With this initiative, ITHUBA has set a benchmark for lotteries across the globe. The hard work of Mabuza and her team has not gone unnoticed. In 2017, the World Lottery Association acknowledged ITHUBA as one of the top five performers globally, with a 9.2 percent increase in sales at the time. In 2020, the National Lottery accounted for R15 billion in winnings apart from the approximately R8 billion it gives away for good causes. Mabuza says these are monies that go back into the economy of the country. At ITHUBA, Mabuza leads a team of dynamic individuals who are all motivated by ITHUBA’s “best practice” and “hard work” ethics. In their work the members of the team are driven by ITHUBA’s core values of integrity, humility, tenacity and ubuntu. “Our organisation is all about the values we stand for and the culture of hard work. We give people an opportunity to thrive and to come up with creative ideas that elevate the business,” she says. In 2020, Forbes Woman Africa honoured Mabuza with their Social Impact Award. This award recognised Mabuza for her philanthropy, which has positively impacted the lives of South Africans for the past two decades. In 2019, Mabuza was awarded the Vision 2030 Top Woman in Education Award for her role in affording access to education to disadvantaged youth through the Eric and Charmaine Mabuza Scholarship. Among the countless other businesses and people who have benefitted from Mabuza’s initiatives is Mary-Jane Ngwane who is the founder of an IT consultancy. When Mary-Jane successfully applied for the Youth Enterprise Development Programme, her one-year-old company was struggling financially. “I cannot put it in many words the skills and tools we learned in that programme. It has put my business in a better position to grow to a substantial company. And I really want to thank Mrs Mabuza and ITHUBA,” she says. Mentorship is one of the most successful ways to nurture upcoming entrepreneurs and Mabuza considers it to be a crucial element of ITHUBA’s support.” We allocate a mentor to you and guide you on how to run your own business,” she says. Mabuza is future-sighted when it comes to her vision for economic growth and well known for her support of blackowned businesses, in particular those run by women and young people, and ITHUBA has funded 82 black-owned enterprises. When the Covid-19 pandemic devastated small companies, ITHUBA came to their rescue as part of its Supplier and Enterprise Development Initiative. As ITHUBA Holdings Mabuza says they saw a need to “restart the economy and ensure that people continue with their businesses.”

Mabuza says: “ITHUBA gives people “ITHUBA gives people an opportunity to be an opportunity to be equal through financial means equal through financial means once they win the jackpot. once they win the jackpot. So, it talks to that, but also it talks to So, it talks to that, but also it talks to our ethos as an organisation. our ethos as an organisation. We do a lot of social responsibility We do a lot of social responsibility initiatives as ITHUBA because that’s initiatives as ITHUBA because that’s what we believe is the right thing to do. what we believe is the right thing to do. It is grounded in our values.” It is grounded in our values.”

THE ITHUBA SUPPLIER

Development Programme

Through ITHUBA’s corporate social responsibility initiatives geared towards eradicating unemployment and poverty alleviation, the company is committed to being part of solving some of South Africa’s societal challenges.

The South African National Lottery Operator, ITHUBA Holdings, a subsidiary of black-owned investment group company, Zamani Holdings’ - runs the Lottery to raise maximum funds that are used towards the betterment of the socio-economic status of all South Africans. Since it was appointed as the Third National Lottery Operator in 2015, ITHUBA has been responsible for several record-breaking jackpots with the highest being R232 million, the highest jackpot in the history of Africa in 2019.

ITHUBA popularly known for its products that include LOTTO, LOTTO Plus 1, LOTTO Plus 2, Powerball, Powerball Plus, Sportstake13, EAZiWIN and Daily LOTTO is also involved in contributing positively towards developing South African communities through its business development programmes and offering of tertiary scholarships to previously disadvantaged learners across the country.

ITHUBA runs various Supplier and Enterprise Development (SED) programmes to support and help develop black-owned businesses through skills development, infrastructure, business opportunities and funding. As part of ITHUBA’s SED Funding Programme, ITHUBA funded 82 black-owned businesses early this year.

Other SED programmes include the Female Retailer Development Programme, a programme that helps women who sell National Lottery products from their supermarkets and spaza shops to acquire business training and qualifications from reputable institutions, as well as the ITHUBA Youth Enterprise Development Programme which assists the black youth to formalise their businesses.

The training we received from ITHUBA changed so many people’s lives. With the funds I received from ITHUBA, I was able to buy more equipment to do my work. As a company we are doing a lot of things; catering for corporates and funerals, deep cleaning of carpets and fogging services for COV ID-19.” • Mummy Seop a •

When a 20-year-old electrical engineering student fell pregnant midcourse at Central Johannesburg College, she was forced to drop-out and fend for her baby. The future started to look very bleak for Mummy Seopa who now had to join thousands of unemployed youth in the township of Alexandra in Johannesburg. Today, Alexandra has an estimated 60% of unemployed residents, and nearly 500 000 people who live in the 100 000 formal and informal housing community. “Once you fall pregnant, your parents tell you that you are now a grown up, you are on your own,” says Seopa, the only girl child in a family of four boys. Seopa, now 38, could no longer return to complete the course she started, so she sold kota meals and fried potato chips in the streets of Alexandra, an ad hoc informal business she initiated with a child support grant of R280. But that was not a sustainable business as there were many other people in the same business. As a result, Seopa went through many menial positions in restaurants, as a packer and cashier at supermarkets and other retailers. At some point, she worked with her mother in her food caravan business until she decided that she should be self-employed and empower other women who had faced similar challenges as hers.

Seopa, popularly known by her friends and family as Pandora, progressed from selling food in her mother’s caravan to running a canteen in the premises of ITHUBA’s headquarters in Sandton. This opportunity came after she was recommended by her mother who was unable to fulfil the opportunity herself when ITHUBA approached her for the new business prospect. Seopa decided to formalise the business and registered it. Her company also provides cleaning services.

Seopa has been both an ITHUBA supplier and a Youth Enterprise Development Programme (YEDP) beneficiary – a scheme designed by Raizcorp for aspiring entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 to 35 years old. As an SMME owner under ITHUBA’s Supplier Enterprise Development Programme, Seopa has gone through business training with Raizcorp, and when COVID-19 interrupted her business, she received relief funds from ITHUBA to continue paying salaries for her staff.

Born in Mokopane in Limpopo but raised in Alexandra, Seopa says her catering business currently employs five people, but under normal business conditions, she has 10 people in her employ. WOP, which stands for Women of Progress, is a 100% black, female-owned SMME, with Seopa being the sole director. Seopa, who progressed from being a YEDP beneficiary to being a supplier to ITHUBA, says she learnt to open her heart and give back to her community. “The same seed ITHUBA has planted into my business I will definitely plant into other people’s businesses, individuals and orphanage homes,” she says.

ITHUBA’S FEMALE RETAILER

Development Programme

My ultimate goal is to brand 100% in-house – meaning I must not outsource anything, and for me to do that I need to invest in more machinery.”

Caroline Tshawe, who runs a branding company, Tarospace, decided to abandon her career in Cost Management Accounting, to pursue her curiosity and passion for branding. Her company brands various items including, company and school uniforms, T-shirts, jackets, mugs, stationery and corporate gifts. She recalls starting the company nine years ago while studying cost management accounting at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), after attending a business exhibition that had companies showcasing printing and branding machines. Tshawe bought her first branding machine and started running her business part-time while studying.

“I applied for the ITHUBA training programme because I wanted to learn how to run my business professionally and profitably. The process was painful and very challenging, but it was worth it because after the programme you are a whole different person, in terms of your personality and character. It gives you confidence to speak boldly and proudly about your own business,” says the 37-year-old entrepreneur.

Born and bred in Thembisa and the second born of three children, Tshawe heard about the ITHUBA’s Enterprise Development Programme on social media and took a chance.

Mathabo Ndlovu, a beneficiary of the lottery operator’s Female Retailer Programme runs a family Chemist shop in Emdeni, Soweto. After attending the University of Johannesburg’s Women Empowerment Programme, Ndlovu says this training helped her understand business compliance issues in order to run her business more effectively. This included registering a business, tax compliance, and how to manage finances.

The 42-year-old mother of two also sells National Lottery products from their shop to reinforce her revenue. “Selling National Lottery tickets has really done that for us. It makes me proud to see the National Lottery branding at our shop. I used to think the National Lottery was far from us. But through dealing with ITHUBA, I got to learn that it was an initiative that benefits all of us.” “I have benefited a lot, because of the training I have on my own machines, machines which I don’t think I would have if it wasn’t for the help I got from ITHUBA. My family is very proud of the businesswoman I have become, and they believe in what I am doing. My impression regarding the programme is that it’s a great initiative, it just requires a person to be 110% dedicated so that you can reap the rewards of running a successful business,” says Tshawe.

Tshawe did not only acquire business skills from the programme, she was also introduced to the philanthropic ITHUBA CEO, Charmaine Mabuza whom she takes as her role model in business. Her wish is to emulate her business acumen. “My wish is to introduce young women into this type of business I am doing because I believe people just need to be exposed to different things to be able to learn and then decide what they want to do with their lives.”

Tshawe, who employs three people, is currently branding her products in-house and in June 2021, she extended her business profile by introducing a sewing department where she manufactures t-shirts, jackets and tracksuits. Under the tutelage of ITHUBA, Tshawe started as a recipient of the Youth Enterprise Development Programme and has now become a supplier to ITHUBA. Zamani Holdings, the majority shareholder of the National Lottery Operator, founded a scholarship fund that has benefitted more than 300 doctors, chartered accountants, quantity surveyors, ICT specialists and many more professionals. The Mabuza family’s goal has always been to be part of the solution in alleviating some of the country’s social challenges.

Sabelo Hlatshwayo is one of those who recently qualified for the prestigious scholarship programme. The 29-year-old from Orlando East matriculated from Bhukulani Senior Secondary, in 2010. He says that after he had been looking for funding for a prolonged time as he could not afford to pay for tertiary education, he saw an advert in a newspaper.

• Caroline Ts haw e •

• Mathabo Ndlovu •

My vision is to open a butchery in the same location. I am using the knowledge I acquired from the ITHUBA sponsored course to explore business opportunities that will benefit me and the community I live in.”

Ndlovu says she heard about the programme from an ITHUBA sales representative. “I applied for the training to enhance my entrepreneurial skills, and I definitely gained insight on how to run my own business. The programme was tailored for me because it was aimed for the empowerment of women from disadvantaged backgrounds” says Ndlovu who matriculated from MH Joosub High in Lenasia, in 1995.

Ndlovu has gained so much confidence since she was awarded a certificate in Social Entrepreneurship and Advanced Innovation, a course designed and tailormade for ITHUBA and accredited by the University of Johannesburg. “The course required dedication and a lot of work, but I was prepared to grab this opportunity, “says Ndlovu. THE ITHUBA BURSARY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE

FOUNDATION

Scholarship Programme

I want to become one of the greatest software engineers in South Africa, so that I could fulfil my dream of starting a black-owned software development firm.” • Sabelo Hlats hway o

“I decided to apply since I had already concluded that I needed to go back to school in order to obtain my tertiary qualification. The interview process for the ITHUBA funding was quite rigorous and intense since they probably wanted to make sure that the right candidates were chosen for the funding,” he says.

Hlatshwayo is full of praises for the scholarship. He says, “ITHUBA really cares about our mental, financial and academic well-being as students. The admin team is always available to assist us, provide us with guidance and someone to speak to if we need encouragement. It does not matter what time of the day we call on them, they are ready to help,” says the BSc in Computer Sciences student at the University of Johannesburg.

• Nombini Mpambani •

I applied for ITHUBA funding because I was desperate for funding, and it has always been my dream to further my studies and ultimately have a secure future.”

Mpambani who comes from a family of unemployed parents achieved four distinctions in her matric examination at Phumlani Secondary School in Katlehong township, east of Johannesburg. Now studying at the University of Johannesburg, she qualified for the bursary programme award.

Like Hlatshwayo, Mpambani says the funding has immensely changed her life and she goes about her studies without worrying about tuition fees and accommodation expenses as the grant covers for all her student needs. “My biggest impression of the funding is that it promotes ubuntu – ‘I am because you are. That it alleviates poverty by granting the poor a chance to advance themselves academically, so they can, in turn, help others in the future,” says the Bachelor of Accounting Science student.

Mpambani, who was provided with a laptop by ITHUBA to adapt to her online studies, says she has nothing to worry about as the foundation calls her regularly to check if she is doing fine. “I have nothing to worry about as everything is taken care of by the efficient team and all I have to do is to focus, work hard and achieve the academic requirements,” she says.