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Transcript of Expatriate Summer 2011 Issue 5
New Nigerian High Commissioner • Malawi and Friends Association • SA DRC Chamber of Commerce • Dr. Chomba Chuma • Jobs in the rest of Africa - backpage! • Discovering the Drakensberg
w w w . e x p a t r i a t e . c o . z a
R 23,95 S A P r o f e s s i o n a l s o f F o r e i g n O r i g i n & F r i e n d s
Issue 5
Abbey Adenigba The Nigerian Prince of SA Properties
Simon Chikumbu AON Benfield Africa CEO
FredSwanikerAfrican Leadership Founder on the Forbes List
Musa Kalenga Africa’s Youngest Chartered Marketer
David K ibuuka Ugandan-born Funny Man
9 772218 757007 >50011
Pic: Mzu Nhlabati
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SUBSCRIBE AND WIN Subscribe and win 2 nights for 2 in the Drakensberg
Subscribe and win 2 nights for 2 in the Drakensberg! – Details pg 29
Contents4 Editorial
5 Inside Home Affairs: Rather Apply Abroad
7 Expat-tivities
14 Cover Story: Fred Swaniker, Young African Leadership Founder on the Forbes List
19 Abbey Adenigba, The Nigerian Prince of SA Properties
22 Willy Yav, From M.E.D.I.A to P.Y.G.M.A
24 Thierry Kankwala: Chair of SA-DRC Chamber of Commerce
26 Expat-travel: Discovering the Drakensberg, The Champagne Castle Hotel
30 Simon Chikumbu - AON Benfield Africa CEO
34 Martha George, Founder of Malawi and Friends Association
36 Know Your Envoy: Ambassador S.S. Yusuf, New Nigerian High Commissioner
38 Dr. Chomba Chuma, MD of Vitabiotics and Chair of KEDASA
41 Senkubuge: The Expat Offspring’s Journey to the Altar
42 Musa Kalenga, Africa’s youngest Chartered Marketer
46 Person of the Year: Africa
48 Expat-tainers: David Kibuuka, Ugandan born funny man
51 Kasirye : Our miserable expatriate women
52 Peprah: Lamenting the Lama
04 EXPATRIATE
here was no need for
the photographer to say
“cheese” or any other
smile-inducing noun when
he took this photograph of me. This
is genuine joy, the kind a striker
experiences after scoring a precious
goal to end a goal drought.
The conception of a product
like a magazine is very similar to the
idea of bringing a life into this world
- there are just as many reasons to
do it as they are not to - and then
actualisation is preceded by anxiety.
Stares into the pram that elicit all kind
of positive noises and congratulatory
responses. Occasionally they guess
the wrong gender or walk away
commenting about how unusually
big the head is.
For the creators, the excitement
of day one quickly dies down to
sleepless nights and nightless sleeps.
The expression teething problems
couldn’t be more apt. It is a thankless
task particularly for the small team
that has spent little or no time in
the media. The first time couple who
have to rely on the feedback of those
who care or those in the know who
care to share.
The triumph that follows
independent sitting is the adorable
movement of the crawl. The product
is in motion. The writing refuses to
be confined, growing stronger and
stronger by the day, gaining balance
and achieving poise.
We are happy to bring you our
first anniversary edition. We bring
on board a German-born lawyer
who knows Home Affairs like
nobody should. As you discover
the Drakensberg, read about our
achiever expatriates – Ghana’s Fred
Swaniker, Kenya’s Chomba Chuma,
Zambia’s Musa Kalenga, Uganda’s
David Kibuuka, Zimbabwe’s Simon
Chikumbu and Nigeria’s Abbey
Adenigba. Get to know the new
Nigerian High Commissioner while
Malawi’s Martha George and DRC’s
Kankwala tell us of their respective
organisations.
We thank everyone who has had
any sort of engagement with this
publication in its maiden year. At one,
we are one, the expatriate family –
together we stand. Soon to walk,
soon to run, soon to fly!
KC Rottok, CA (SA)
Creative & Fin. Journalism (Wits University)
Managing Editor.
TO STAND, TO CRAWL, TO TEETH... TO BE BORN.
Publisher: The Expatriate Forum andMagazine (Pty) LimitedReg. Number: 2010/012428/07P O Box 4935, Randburg, 2125Tel: +27 11 7917484www.expatriate.co.za
Director: Carol Malonza – [email protected] Editor:KC Rottok – [email protected] Deputy Editor and Content Advisor: Leah Maina – [email protected]
Publishing Executive: Sheila Lynn Senkubuge
Advertising and Event Enquiries [email protected] or 0822146421
Edition Writers:Keith Kundai, Hannington Kasirye, Yaw Peprah, Andreas Krensel, KC Rottok, Sheila Senkubuge, Carol Malonza
Contributors:Karabo Moleke, Buntu Williams
Art Direction, Design and Layout:Mike [email protected]
Photography:Mzu Nhlabati www.creativenation.co.za
Website: Drutech Media (0781121311)
All rights reserved. Excerpts may be used as long as this magazine is credited as the source. Longer versions of our content may only be used with the written permission of the Publisher. Neither the publisher nor the editor accept responsibility for any of the information from edition writers or contributors. Whilst we have taken care in preparing this publication, the publisher/editor does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The editor retains the right to edit all contributions. Advertisers are responsible for their material.
© Expatriate SA 2011: ISSN 2218 – 757X
NOTEFROMTHEEDITOR
et us start with the good news.
The Department of Home
Affairs recently received its
first unqualified audit in 20
years, meaning their financial affairs
are in order. In addition many citizens
would confirm that the issuing
of identity (ID) books, birth and
marriage certificates has improved.
A lot of offices have undergone
a renovation and look clean and
friendly. Home Affairs’ efforts to turn
the department around are bearing
some fruits.
Unfortunately some of these
efforts have no impact on the
expatriate. The bad news is that
service delivery for foreigners
applying for temporary or permanent
residence has not significantly
improved. The introduction of a
central hub in charge of processing
all applications was meant to speed
up processing times and ensure
the proper implementation of the
current immigration regulations. In
June 2010, a computer based “track
& trace” system was introduced in
addition to a national call centre in a
bid to assist in monitoring the status
of each application. The system also
enables the applicant to find out
where in the processing chain the
application is in the event that it is
not completed in time.
And yet processing times
have increased to up to 100 days
compared to the 35 days on
average when applications were still
processed at the regional and district
offices where the application was
also submitted. The call centre is
reachable but does not produce any
results if you log a query. The central
Rather Apply Abroad...“Home affairs now looks clean and friendly but service delivery for foreigners applying for temporary or permanent residence has not significantly improved...”
hub in Pretoria was supposed to move
to local offices in September but by
the middle of October this had not
happened causing a near standstill
in processing of any permits. In
addition, issued permits are wrongly
endorsed, applications are incorrectly
denied and appeals are not attended
to at all. The most frustrating part
for a lot of applicants is that there
is no one who can give an answer to
queries because all applications are
processed in the central hub that has
no contact to the public at all. Thus
the practical implementation of the
well-intended changes is in my view
disastrous.
Additionally, there is a change
of law on the cards with new the
Immigration Regulations set to be
published. There are two changes in
the Act that will have major practical
implications for all expatriates.
Firstly, all applicants must submit
their applications in person. In the
past attorneys or immigration
practitioners were allowed to act
on behalf of the applicant but this
will no longer be allowed although
we expect most to accompany the
applicant in future. Secondly, one
cannot change from a visitors permit
to any other kind of temporary
residence anymore. If say a visitor
finds a job here, he/she will have to
return to his/hers country of origin in
order to submit the application for a
work permit.
With all the justified criticism
here, there is a workable solution for
all expatriates and we recommend
this to our clients successfully. All
foreigners who wish to work or
live in South Africa should apply
for a temporary visa at the South
African consulate or embassy in their
country of origin before they travel
to South Africa. The processing times
are about a week or two, employees
can be reached and queries can be
resolved before an application is
rejected.
Andreas Krensel is the owner and managing
director of IBN Consulting in Cape Town. He
is a qualified German attorney with LLM from
UCT and has been assisting foreign investors
in South Africa for the past ten years. www.
ibncapetown.com
InsideHomeAffairs
ExpaT-TivitieS
More pics available at www.facebook.com/expatmag
02 06
ZASA HOSTS BBA’S KIMBERLY AND MUMBA, GREER’S PUB 27 AUGUST 2011
KIMBERLY MUSONDA“After 84 days in the Big Brother House, everyone knows my name with hundreds of Facebook friend requests per day. My salon in Livingstone now has
booming business and contrary to internet rumours I am neither pregnant nor engaged. Lomwe and I are not together as that was just part of the Big
Brother game. He is now one of the 25 friends I made around Africa. Going forward, I want to go back to school to be a dermatologist...”
MUMBA MWAKWA“Before BBA I was very private working as Krystal the DJ at Radio Phoenix in Lusaka. Now everybody who knows who Krystal is. Some people may have
thought I was boring or fake in the house but that was just me being me. I was looking beyond the three month experience. After the game, I am more
patient and more confident though I have to watch what I am doing now as people know who I am.....”
GENERAL OZZY“Since 2005 I have had four albums: The General, Generalised, Trilogy and Kobili. So far Trilogy was the biggest including hits like “Potential” which was
my original song before I did a remix with Radio and Weasal from Uganda. I am working on doing work with artists across Africa to make my music
international like Kidum in Kenya, Zeus from Botswana and Buffalo Soldier from Zim. Beyond that I am running a production company with my brother....”
From left: Mumba, Ozzy and Kimberly
07WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
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08 EXPATRIATE
ExpaT-TivitieS
More pics available at www.facebook.com/expatmag
BAANA BA KINTU TABAMIRUKA, PICS 1 -4
AUPSA INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION, PICS 5 – 6
3 – Ronnie Nsubuga performing at the event. 6 – Key note Address from Dr. Kasirye.
ExpaT-TivitieS
EXPATRIATE MAGAZINE ISSUE 4 LAUNCHMOLOKO STRATHAVON HOTEL
04 01
05 06
0203
More pics available at www.facebook.com/expatmag
1 – Kenyan Ambassador Tom Amolo (Right) with his wife Nosi (middle) and Ghanaian Deputy High Commissioner Parker Allotey (Left). 2 – Editor KC Rottok speaking to press after the event. 3 – Karabo Moleke speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Old Mutual/Fedhealth/Mutual & Federal. 4 – Key-note address from Moky Makura. 5 – Fortune Gowera, sales director of Park Inn Hotel handing raffle winner Liz Gakuo of the Enzi Chair her prize. 6 – Raj Shah, director at Absa Capital congratulates Grace Olukune for winning the grand prize, an SAA sponsored trip to Cape Town.
09WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
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10 EXPATRIATE
ExpaT-TivitieS
More pics available at www.facebook.com/expatmag
GHANAFEST 2011 PRETORIA, PICS 1 -5
MISS ZAMBIA SA @ SANKAYI, PIC 6
2 – Planet Radio’s Turas – MC of the event. 4 – Winner of Miss Ghanafest – Debbie Collins (middle) flanked by the runners-up Tina-Marie Collins (left) and Melissa Adwoa Asante (right). 5 – Kojo Baffoe of Destiny Man recites a poem dedicated to Ghana. 6 – Some of the Miss Zambia Contestants, dressed by Ethnique Designs.
11WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
ExpaT-TivitieS
More pics available at www.facebook.com/expatmag
KENYA NIGHT 2011
02
04
01 06
03051 – The MC – Bongani Nx. 2 – Upendo Women chair Nanzala Mwaura. 3 – 450 in attendance. 4 – Key note address from Kenya’s Gender Minister Naomi Shaban. 5 – Nameless entertains the crowd.
0301 02
ExpaT-TivitieS
BRAND AFRICA FORUM SANDTON 20111 – Prof. Arthur Mutambara, Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. 2 – Dr. Joseph Annan Deputy Trade Minister of Ghana (left) and Brand Africa Founder Thebe Ikalafeng (right). 3 – Dr. Dambisa Moyo, Author of “Dead Aid” & “How the West Was Lost”.
23WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
160 Helen Road (off Grayston Drive), Strathavon, Sandton, Johannesburg • +27 11 384 [email protected] • +27 861 MOLOKO (66 56 56) • www.strathavonhotel.co.za
More than just somewhere to sleep, the Moloko Strathavon Hotel is a style statement. It’s the future of the boutique hospitality industry which embodies all that is great in the modern luxury hotel market, and then takes it one step beyond. The exclusive hotel encompasses an award-winning organic spa, fine dining at the Ambassador Restaurant and the sought-after post-dinner night spot Off the Record cigar lounge. Taking its cue from Mother Nature, the hotel has been designed to blend seamlessly into the indigenous gardens surrounding it. Moloko Strathavon Hotel is a mere stone’s throw from Sandton, Johannesburg’s trendsetting business and shopping hub.
SERENE • TRANQUIL • EXCLUSIVE
Moloko.indd 30 2011/06/20 10:49 AM
Fred Swaniker Young African Leadership Founder on the Forbes List
eet Fred Swaniker, one
of the founders of the
Johannesburg based
African Leadership
Academy (ALA). His is a truly
inspiring story of an African who
is committed to transforming the
continent by positively influencing
its future leadership.
“When you spend so much time
in Africa, you cannot help but be
passionate about the continent,”
Swaniker says.
He was born in Ghana and left the
country when he was four. He grew
up in a number of African countries
namely the Gambia, Botswana
and Zimbabwe. With each part of
Africa he lived in, a strong desire to
influence its destiny grew which
eventually led to the establishment
of the ALA in September 2008.
Founding academic institutions
seems to run in his family, starting
with his grandmother who set up a
secondary school in Ghana and his
mother who formed Mount Pleasant
English Medium School in Botswana.
Swaniker was put in charge of Mount
Pleasant at the age of 18.
“After my time as headmaster
at the school, I pursued university
studies in the United States of
America where I obtained a BA in
economics from Macalester College.
I then went on to pursue an MBA
at Stanford Business School and
it was there that I met one of ALA
co-founders - Chris Bradford - who
shares the same passion I have for
the African continent,” Swaniker
recalls.
After university, Swaniker
was involved in founding Global
Leadership Adventures, a leadership
development program for youth
with sites in ten countries. He gained
additional entrepreneurial experience
by founding Synexa Life Sciences
in Cape Town, a biotechnology
company that today employs
about 30 South African scientists.
His work experience also includes
acting as a consultant for McKinsey
and Company where he provided
strategic advice to the management
teams of large companies in Africa.
It was during his tenure at McKinsey
in Nigeria in 2003 that the ALA idea
was formed.
“Everything I saw around me
made me realise the urgent need for
more effective and ethical leaders.
Together with Chris and the other
founders of ALA, Acha Leke and
Peter Mombaur, we asked ourselves
the question: what corrective steps
could we take to create good leaders
in Africa that would bring about
fundamental change beyond our
lifetimes?”
The four embarked on a process
of studying leadership around the
world to determine if there was a
clear pattern that was common to
good leaders. They identified certain
‘ingredients’ that if developed in a
systematic way would enable them
to bring about good leaders.
This is what inspired the
establishment of ALA, a donor funded
institution that has evaluated almost
10,000 candidates of which 400
have been accepted for its two year
program. The academy has contacts
across the continent who identify
teenagers who possess leadership
potential for consideration.
“We want to work with them
from a young age as history shows
that a good number of leaders
began the journey to achievement
during their formative years. Nelson
Mandela for example was in his
20’s when he joined the ANC youth
league and technology innovators
Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg
were only teenagers when they
conceived Microsoft and Facebook
respectively,” he notes.
William Kamkwamba may very
well be the next Mark Zuckerberg.
He was kicked out of school when
he was 14 for lack of school fees but
the young leader was determined
to make something of his life. He
noticed how windy it was in his
village in Malawi and read about
windmills. Using a tractor fan and
bicycle parts, he set up one that was
able to produce enough electricity to
power a small radio.
“When we met him, he could
barely speak English,” Swaniker
said during an address at his alma
mater Stanford recently. “We were
concerned that he would not be able
to cope but eventually decided to give
him a chance and bring him to the
academy. William not only graduated
from the school, he was accepted
to Dartmouth and is just about to
complete his first year there. In 2009,
he published a book entitled ‘The
boy who harnessed the wind’ which
made it to number 7 on the Amazon.
com best seller list. His vision is to
15WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
establish a windmill company in
Malawi and he has identified an area
which has the potential to triple the
energy output of the country.”
William is a good example of the
opportunities that the ALA provides.
The institution has a practical
approach by requiring students to
complete one of three projects: an
entrepreneurial project, a project
in service to the community or a
project along the lines of what the
student intends to pursue as a career
when they eventually graduate.
Swaniker says that ALA intends
to produce 6,000 leaders over
the next 50 years. He views the
initiative as not just an academy
but a network seeing as the school
follows the progress of its students
throughout their path to leadership
by getting them admitted to world
class universities and assisting them
in getting jobs on the continent
thereafter.
Margaret Mead said “Never
underestimate the power of a few
committed people to change the
world.” Fred Swaniker and the ALA
team are doing exactly that, one
young leader at a time.
- KC Rottok
Expat-tidbits: Fred Swaniker, Age 34, 2006 list of Top 15 emerging entrepreneurs in the world (Echo Green) 2011 list of Top 20 most powerful young Africans (Forbes Magazine)
16 EXPATRIATE
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Without a will there is no way
Estate planning begins with drafting your will. “A valid will is linked to your estate. It is a record of how you want your assets and liabilities to be dealt with when you pass away. A valid will is therefore an essential element of estate planning,” says Neelan Porthen, Regional General Manager of the Johannesburg Region.
In order for your will to be executed, it must be valid. This means, among other things, that your will must be signed by two independent witnesses who have not been nominated as beneficiaries.
It is very important that your loved ones know where to find the most recent copy of your will in the event of your death. It may be a good idea to date your will so that it will be easier to identify which will is the most recent. You should also update your will on a regular basis by keeping it current as you make major lifestyle changes. Also, ensure that your family members are aware of the contents of your will.
“You must appoint an executor in your will – preferably someone you can trust, such as a spouse or an attorney, “ says Porthen. The executor’s task is to see to it that the terms of your will are carried out. If you die without a will or without having appointed an executor, the state will appoint a suitable person as executor. If, however, you draft your own will, the executor will be someone of your own choosing.
Your estate includes everything you own and owe – from property and cars to investments and debts. A properly structured estate plan will ensure that your estate has a tax-efficient structure which will benefit you during your lifetime and your beneficiaries after your death.
If your estate doesn’t include sufficient cash, the executor may be forced to sell some of your assets. This could have a financially negative impact on your family for the rest of their lives. Consider taking out life assurance that will pay out an amount to your estate in order to cover a cash deficit.
Another possibility is to create a trust. A trust is a legal entity which can be established to hold and manage assets on your behalf. Your personal circumstances will determine whether it will be useful for you to have a trust. There are many advantages to having a trust. One such advantage is that a trust can result in estate freezing. This means that you will be exempt from capital gains tax, as the growth of the asset takes place within the trust and not in your hands. A trust can also protect your assets should you or your beneficiaries be declared insolvent. Furthermore a trust will protect a beneficiary who is inexperienced in business matters and investments, by controlling the management of funds.
A trust is, however, not the best option for some people. “There are various cost and income tax implications when a trust is created. Do make sure that you receive professional advice before embarking on this path,” says Porthen. If a testamentary trust is established in your will, the trustees of the trust must be named.
If you die without a will, the law of intestate succession will apply. This means that the law will then determine who your beneficiaries are in terms of blood-relationship. By drawing up a valid will you can ensure that the beneficiaries of your choice will receive what is due to them according to your wishes.
For more info on getting expert financial advice, contact Karabo Moleke , Manager: Regional Marketing, Personal Financial Advice: Johannesburg Region, Tel: 011 217 1316, Mobile: 082 758 3196, Email: [email protected]
hen you walk into
the office of
Prince Abiodun
“ A b b e y ”
Adenigba in Morningside, you are
met by the various trophies and
qualifications that are the product
of 16 years’ service to the South
African property market.
“It is all about
service,” he
affirms, “The
money is only
secondary.
I was
r e c e n t l y
walking in
a mall in
Sandton
w h e n
a man
stopped me
and thanked
me so
much for
h a v i n g
sold him
a very
g o o d
house a
few
years ago. That is what gives me
satisfaction in this business because
my focus is largely in the residential
end of the industry where people are
making the often emotive decision
of purchasing or selling a dwelling.”
Abbey arrived in South Africa soon
after the 1994 elections and enrolled
at the then Midrand University
to pursue property studies. The
following year he joined Seeff
Properties after a brief
three month stint with
Wendy Machanik
Properties. Life in
the property industry
was not easy for him
as he was from an
average family and
A B B E Y A D E N I G B AT H E N I G E R I A N P R I N C E O F S A P R O P E R T I E S
did not have a car.
“I credit my superior Mike Slater
for taking me in without a vehicle
and allowing me to be an assistant
estate agent. Times were tough
when I got here; I was actually a
bouncer at a casino in Hillbrow as a
student. Without training to handle
a weapon, I was given a gun and
assigned to the front door!”
After a few months at Seeff,
he was able to purchase a 20 year
old vehicle and was then made a
full estate agent. He recalls that
for five years he was the only black
estate agent in a company that had
hundreds of agents and occasionally
he would find that his advertising
boards had been kicked to the curb in
some neighbourhoods.
“Sometimes some people would
call the company requesting an estate
agent. I would be assigned to meet
the prospective client who would
be taken aback when a salesman
from Nigeria shows up. I actually
remember one incident where I was
sent on such an assignment to meet
a client in a white neighbourhood. I
arrived early and while waiting in my
car I dosed off only to be woken up by
policemen who had surrounded the
vehicle with cocked guns. Apparently,
there had been a robbery in the area
the previous night and only when
my client vouched for my status as a
Seeff salesman did they let me go.”
Despite these challenges, he managed
to exceed everyone’s expectations
and win several sales awards at the
company.
“I attribute my success at
the company to three things,” he
explains, “Firstly, the strength of the
Seeff brand; people were happy to
do business with me as I was a Seeff
agent. I was also assigned to areas
that were undergoing transition
under the new dispensation when
members of the black middle class
were buying homes in the suburbs.
Finally and most importantly, I had
integrity. I believe people can smell
if you are a type of person that they
can do business with. I actually recall
a middle aged woman asking me who
she should make out a six hundred
thousand rand cheque out to and
entrusting it to me thereafter.”
Abbey believes that he has
maintained his integrity throughout
his career, even after starting his own
agency – Abaden Properties – in 2002.
The agency has withstood difficult
times to keep active offices open in
both Lagos and Johannesburg with
a property portfolio that extends to
Durban and Cape Town.
“A significant majority of agents
have closed down with the advent of
the National Credit Act as well as the
financial crisis. We have remained
active by offering a range of services
not just buying and selling properties.
I have pursued various qualifications
at the Wits Business School including
a post graduate qualification in
property studies which allow me
to provide consultation services to
companies. These include valuations,
renovation guidance and assistance
in finding suitable office space and
residences for key employees. We
were the agency responsible for
relocating expatriates working for
Barclays when they acquired a stake
in Absa.”
The agency has also created
a niche for itself by managing
properties for a number of foreigners
who buy investment property in the
country. Abbey says that they were
the first agency to assist Nigerians
to buy properties in SA for rental,
a service he has expanded to other
countries including Kenya and Ghana.
“Our long term vision is to
remain a foremost estate agency
that provides unmatched service to
families across Africa. We sometimes
manage properties for people who
have never been to the country. You
also need financial discipline to obey
the rules around your trust account
because sometimes a client does not
require you to remit rentals for three
years and then out of the blue they
ask you to transfer a huge amount to
the United Kingdom as school fees
for their children.”
Abbey is also the founder and
minister at Bramley based Shekainah
Ministries. His wife whom he met
during his days at university comes
from Zambia. She is a human resource
professional at Ericsson and together
they have two young daughters.
He cites the Seeff Brothers,
Emary Campbell, Liora Bamberger
and Charles Vinnin as his industry
mentors.
- Keith Kundai
“Soon after the 1994 elections, I once dozed off in my car waiting for a client in a white neighbourhood only to be awoken by policemen holding cocked guns...”
21WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
WILLY YAV – FROM M.E.D.I.A TO P.Y.G.M.Af you have been in South Africa
for much of the past two decades,
then you have probably heard
or seen Willy Mukiny Yav from
the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC). Heard – on his radio segment
the Willy Yav show. Seen – on either
the SABC TV music show known
as Jukebox Africa that aired in the
nineties, on Summit TV presenting
African Business Tonight or as the
host of two popular events of that
era; Miss Malaika and the Kora African
music awards.
“I got into media soon after
arriving in the country in 1991,” Willy
began with a slight French accent
when we recently met at a Sandton
hotel. “I had come to the country
to join my brother Alain who was
studying at Wits. We were struggling
financially, so much so that he had to
run a salon in Hillbrow to pay for his
fees and I had to abandon my studies
and take up a position as a French
translator at the SABC.”
At the young age of 20, Yav was
trained within the SABC to handle
various media assignments on the
African continent that brought
him into contact with key decision
makers in the region. In 1996, he felt
that he had learnt enough to start
his own television company which
he used to produce various shows for
his former employer. Shortly after,
he got the chance to move into the
corporate environment to pursue
other business opportunities with
family and friends. This was the birth
of the PYGMA group.
“Pygma is an acronym of the names
of the five founders of the group,
which has diverse interests and is
united by a pan African vision,” he
revealed. “P is for Paul Kasseyet who
is our chairman and a Congolese
entrepreneur who has worked in
remote parts of the continent
pursuing unique opportunities in
mining and property development.
The Y is derived from my surname
while the G refers to my best friend
and business partner, an architect
who hails from Rwanda - Gatarhaiya
Jean Pierre (J.P.). The Msimang family
has always welcomed us and treated
us as one of their own. Their daughter
Mandla runs Pygma Consulting and is
the M in the name while my brother
Alain who is responsible for our
communications business completes
the acronym.”
It all began when Alain who was
a marketer at Cadbury Schweppes
came across an opportunity to assist
a Cape Town based
company that was
looking to expand its
activities to the rest
of the continent.
Willy indicated that
they worked on a
unique proposal
focused on a marketing approach
that created a perception of quality
and it was this that won them the
lucrative contract.
“Soon after, we assisted FCB in
establishing an agency in the
DRC,” he recalled. “We realised
from this experience that there
were opportunities in advertising
and approached Ogilvy to start
an agency in the capital Kinshasa
together. Alain relocated to head the
new entity and with the assistance
of South African creative director Kris
Lukraj; a decade later they have built
the largest agency in the country
with significantly improved quality
and approximately 100 employees.”
The most significant challenges they
faced in the DRC according to Willy
was that of finding appropriate staff
in light of the fact that they were one
of the first agencies in the country
with world class standards. They
“We established Pygma Communication as the
largest advertising agency in the DRC...”
22 EXPATRIATE
23WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
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P.O Box 2707, Houghton 2041 Johannesburg
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initially employed returning residents from other African
and European countries, but found that there were merits in
hiring and training local individuals whom he said created a
whole new crop of advertising professionals in the country.
“Other than advertising we are looking to increase our
investment in the DRC and across the continent,” Willy
added. “Other than finding investment opportunities on the
continent for investors, my current responsibilities within
the Pygma Group include looking for business development
opportunities for the Group companies, pursuing mining
interests in the Congo through Pygma Investments
and seeking other investment, consulting and advisory
opportunities. Our current focus is property development
- we own land in parts of the country that we are looking
to develop. Similarly we have property in Rwanda and in
Benoni, South Africa. JP, the architect in the group, is largely
responsible for our plans to build middle to upper class
homes of a certain quality in these African markets.”
Willy and his family live in the leafy suburb of
Hurlingham Johannesburg. He spends a significant amount
of time travelling to about twenty countries on the
continent and this is likely to increase as Pygma sets its
sights on expanding its operations to Europe and the United
States.
“We believe that South Africa is a gateway to the
rest of the continent. Our local entity is known as Pygma
Consulting which Mandla is largely responsible for. She
has a background in regulation in the telecommunications
sector having worked for Cell C and the Independent
Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for
many years. The company is a boutique consulting firm with
a number of associates working on a variety of projects at
any given time.”
When asked about his plans for the future, Willy
confessed that he looked forward to returning to his first
love once his corporate assets are set up and running on
their own.
“Being in the media and doing events are my passion,”
he declared.
- Keith Kundai
Tell us about yourself and how you
ended up in South Africa.
I hail from Lubumbashi in the
Katanga region of the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) where I
completed my studies in electrical
engineering. I came to South Africa
(SA) in September 1998 when a
multi-national entity was looking
for a French speaking engineer. I was
deployed to Mauritius for eighteen
months before returning to SA to
work on different projects around the
country. In 2004, I resigned and set-
up my own company ITEC Electrical.
We now have about 23 members of
staff who carry out various electrical
engineering projects and provide
consultancy services both in SA and
in the DRC.
How was the SA DRC Chamber of
Commerce formed?
I initiated the formation of the
SA DRC Chamber of Commerce two
years ago when I realised that there
was a large amount of business
between the two countries.
I realised that there
was a need to
facilitate trading
o p p o r t u n i t i e s
for companies
going to DRC
seeing as the
only available
channel was
the Embassy.
The time had
come for us
to set up a
platform for business people to
obtain both information and advice
with respect to their dealings in the
DRC. The platform is also beneficial
for Congolese companies coming to
do business in SA.
What have been the achievements of
the Chamber since its formation?
We had a very successful launch
on the 24th of November 2010
here in Johannesburg attended by
a Cabinet minister from the DRC
as well as various members of the
business and diplomatic community
from the two countries. We
have established an office at The
Business Centre in Johannesburg and
employed two people to respond
to queries. Additionally, we have
very strong links with the embassy
and signed a memorandum of
understanding with the Federation
of Enterprise in the DRC which has
enabled us to add benefit to our
current and prospective members.
What is the structure of the Chamber
and what benefits does
it provide to its
members?
T h e
C h a m b e r
has been
registered as
a non profit
organisation
in South
Africa. It
has a board
nominated by
its members
which currently
consists
of six people who do not earn any
remuneration. The membership fees
differ depending on the turnover
of the entity in the DRC. About 80
percent of the members are South
African companies with business
interests in the DRC with the
remainder consisting of Congolese
companies pursuing opportunities
in SA. We assist members with
their requirements in the DRC
including facilitating visas, company
registration and obtaining various
business permits. We also provide
legal advice and assist in sourcing
suitable partners in the Congo.
How would you describe the business
environment in the DRC?
At the moment things are a
little quiet as most investors are
concerned about the elections.
They are waiting to see whether the
political environment subsequent
to the elections will be conducive
for business. That said, the country
has recently moved six places in
the doing business index from 171
to 165. The most difficult thing for
South Africans doing business in
the DRC is the language barrier as
business is primarily conducted in
French. However, if you overcome
that and with our assistance there
is potential to get a great return
on investment. Mining and related
industries are where the most
significant opportunities lie as
the country possesses almost all
minerals known to man. Agriculture
also has huge potential because
many of the country’s food products
are imported. - Keith Kundai
THIERRY NAWEJI KANKWALAC H A I R O F T H E S A D R C C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
I have been to the Table Mountains in
Cape Town - breathtakingly beautiful
- but in my view, the Drakensberg
has a leg up. A perfect expedition, the
only downside being a few too many
toll gates with fees of up to R40 per
stop and numerous speed cameras
even at sections where one has every
temptation to put the pedal to the
metal.
If however you are able to regulate
your speed and play your part in
funding the roads, your just reward
is one of Africa’s most frequented
mountain ranges. According to the
Drakensberg Tourism Association,
the area falls into four valleys
beginning with the Champagne
Valley in the Central Berg, through
the Cathedral Peak and Didima
Valley, then the Royal Natal National
Park and Amphitheatre Valley, and
finally the Middledale Pass Valley in
the Northern Berg.
I drove through a sleepy town
with the window rolled all the way
down to breath in the countryside
fresh air flavoured by a dash
of animal dung. It was a windy
discoveringT h e C h a m p a g n e C a s t l e H o t e l
26 EXPATRIATE
ExpaT-TraveL
entrance to Champagne Valley with
Champagne Castle Hotel being the
chosen destination lying thirty nine
kilometres from the Estcourt North
off-ramp from the N3 to Durban.
Nothing complements a
stunning view better than a warm
welcome. A delicious meal in the
dining hall sent me on my way to
my room. The room is well ‘equipped’
with a posture perfect double bed,
telephone, DSTV, hairdryers, hot
water bottles, tea and coffee-making
facilities, extra blankets, umbrella’s, a
safe and an oil heater in case the cool
wind sweeps in from the surrounding
hills.
I stepped onto the balcony
and there was a sight to behold. A
majestic mass stretched from a few
hundred metres from where I was,
on the ground into the horizon and
in the air into the heavens. The view
was a pleasant blend of grey rock,
brown earth and green vegetation
that would jolt anyone to grab their
camera. I felt very lucky to have one
of the 38 mountain facing deluxe
drakensbergdiscovering
27WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
Shutterstock.com
ExpaT-TraveL
rooms at the hotel which also has a
few garden facing rooms as well as
self-catering chalets that host up to
six people.
After a comfortable nights rest,
I visited the reception to see what
Champagne Valley had to offer. The
fact that the get-away is situated
within the World Heritage site that
is the uKhahlamba Drakensberg
Park, serves to reinforce the four star
hotel’s slogan of a sense of place. The
lodge has a wellness centre where
one can enjoy an exhaustive array
of individualised and specialised
treatments. If you are up for a
challenge, try the big five hiking
challenge which is an expedition
to climb all five major peaks of the
Drakensberg. The few who have
successfully completed this test
receive a certificate and get their
names engraved on the hotel honour
board.
Teams can undertake the mini
Olympics which is a collective term
for group sporting activities offered
outdoors on the estate. Indoors,
Champagne Castle Hotel has a games
room with popular games including
pool, table soccer and a variety of
board games. If you fancy water,
you could either dive into the large
swimming pool in close proximity to
the rooms or take a short walk to the
well stocked trout dam and do some
fishing.
There are some fantastic
activities for those with families.
You could challenge your kids on the
putting green then take on the real
deal at the golf resort down the road.
There is an animal farm that children
would enjoy as well as daily horse
rides for all ages and pony rides for
the very little ones.
The venue also has a small
chapel with the altar positioned in
full view of the mountains. I cannot
really think of a better place that
would present a more picturesque
setting to say ‘I do’. Not too far
away is a little shop full of delightful
mementos that you could buy as a
souvenir to an unforgettable trip.
Although I got to experience a
few of these pleasures, unfortunately
most of my time was spent in the
hotel conference centre attending a
company workshop. That said; it was
a great location for a work function
with pleasant weather in spring
time. I vowed to return in winter
when snow descends upon the
mountains. The cherry on top that
adds testimony to a brand promise
that in my view holds true – you are
unlikely to experience a better sense
of place.
KC ROTTOK
“ I vowed to return in winter when snow descends upon the mountains. The cherry on top that adds testimony to a brand promise that in my view holds true – you are unlikely to experience a better sense of place.”
Pic by: John Jones
ExpaT-TraveL
29WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
SUBSCRIBE AND WIN Subscribe and win 2 nights for 2 in the Drakensberg
Visit our website today and click on the Subscribe Tab to subscribe to the magazine for only R99 for 5 Issues. By subscribing, you get discount entry to our events and also gives you the chance to win 2 Nights for 2 at the Champagne Castle Hotel in the Drakensberg. The winner will be announced in the course of 2012. Terms and conditions apply.
ExpaT-TraveL
30 EXPATRIATE
S I M O N C H I K U M B U ,
“With his interest in insurance peaked, the young engineer obtained a qualification from the Chartered Institute of Insurers in the UK with relative ease and was appointed regional manager at the age of 33.”
A O N B E N F I E L D A F R I C A C E O
31WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
studied Mechanical Engineering
at the University of Zimbabwe
and ended up in insurance entirely
by accident,” Simon Chikumbu
begins.
This Chief Executive Officer of
AON Benfield Africa region prepares
to tell me his life story as we sit in
the company boardroom of AON’s
Sandton office waiting for coffee to
be served.
“My first job was working for
at mine very far away from bright
lights of Harare (then Salisbury) in
1980 and from my village. It was
difficult to say the least. As a last
born the in family, I was missing
my family, the working hours were
quite demanding and as an asthma
sufferer, I had difficulty coping with
the dusty environment. In addition,
this was soon after Zimbabwe’s
independence when discrimination
was still an issue. So I left to join the
country’s largest brewery in Harare.”
It was at the brewery that Simon met
his wife Theodora with whom he has
three children; sons Farai and Kudzi
who work for KPMG and Deloitte
respectively and daughter Chido who
is a student at UCT.
“The company appeared
disapproving of colleagues dating
and hence I decided to start
looking for another job,” he recalls,
“I got a position at a reinsurance
company in Harare which promised
travelling and a new environment. I
started working as an engineering
underwriter which also included
was doing valuations of plant and
equipment and risk assessments. In
time I began to enjoy my role. Unlike
my previous positions, this one
enabled me to see different types of
industries and meet different people.
Also as an underwriter, I was at the
forefront of revenue generation and
could determine premiums thereby
have the ability to make money for
the company. I still remember the
satisfaction I got from the first policy
that I wrote. The premium was small,
about 500 Zimbabwe dollars at the
time or equivalent of USD 80 but I
got motivated nonetheless!”
With his interest in insurance
having peaked, Chikumbu decided
to pursue professional insurance
exams and managed to obtain a
qualification from the Chartered
Institute of Insurers in the UK with
relative ease. He began to familiarise
himself with the other classes of
insurance within the organisation
and at the age of 33 was appointed
regional manager. A few years later,
he joined the largest insurance
broker in Zimbabwe to head their
new reinsurance division.
“Reinsurance brokerage is the
business of arranging reinsurance
for insurance companies and as my
employer was well positioned in
the market, we quickly acquired a
significant majority of the market
with support from our holding
company overseas. Our company
was later acquired by Aon Globally
and with the transformation
happening in South Africa, they
needed a team to come and set up a
hub from which to develop the rest of
the African market,” he recalls with a
slight glance at the door anticipating
our coffee.
A brief shake of the head
precedes the next phase of the story.
“My introduction to the South
Africa of 1999 was not an easy one.
There were few black professionals in
the industry. In fact, we once went to
a client who totally disregarded my
position as a director and dedicated
his attention to a much more junior
colleague of European origin. I was
part of a new team that was charged
with the responsibility of creating
something from scratch and having
moved to the country alone, it was
a very lonely affair. I was quite
tempted to quit but I did not want
to let down those who had gone to
great lengths to put me here.”
Chikumbu and his team used
the AON presence in many African
countries to open doors with respect
to reinsurance broking. They have
since established themselves as
market leaders in about ten countries
with South Africa accounting for 60%
of AON’s revenue. In 2004, he was
appointed CEO of AON Re Africa, the
reinsurance division of AON in Africa.
In 2008, when AON bought Benfield,
another large reinsurance broker in
the world, Chikumbu was appointed
chief executive of the merged entity
on the continent.
He also sits on the board of
the Europe, Middle East and Africa
(EMEA) region. As a result he
frequently visits Europe for board
meetings and frequents each African
country where they have a presence
at least once a year.
“At the moment I am settled in
SA because this is the country with
the most significant opportunities
when it comes to reinsurance and my
family is quite settled here. However,
I visit Zim quite often as it is only
an hour and a half away by air. I see
myself spending half my time in
SA and the other half there when I
eventually retire.”
Chikumbu attributes his success
to his upbringing in a polygamous
family of 14 which taught him about
hard work and how to relate to
others. He also believes that there
were key people in his life including
his primary school headmaster who
allowed him to finish his studies
when he was struggling to pay
school fees and his high school
headmaster who forgave him when
he was involved in some unfortunate
incident which could have justified
him being expelled. As I leave I ask
him about his management style.
“I require high standards although I
am quite open and approachable,” he
replies with a wry smile as he heads
towards his corner office.
“Some people interpret
this as being soft..... As you can
see, we never got our coffee!”
KC ROTTOK
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www.rsmbettyanddickson.co.za www.rsmi.com
34 EXPATRIATE
Tell us about yourself.
This year for me marks 20 years of
living in South Africa. When I first
arrived, I stayed in various townships
including Soweto and Lenasia. I
worked in the hospitality industry
for a number of years in hotels such
as the Carlton Hotel in Johannesburg
when it was one of the best hotels in
the world and have great memories
including meeting Michael Jackson
and babysitting Denzel Washington’s
children during their visit to South
Africa. Later, I ventured into the
property sector with my husband
Nigerian Adeyinka George. We
are based in Pretoria and focus on
all kinds of properties including
residential properties, office blocks
and shopping complexes. I am a
mother to four children; sadly my
first born daughter passed on mid
this year.
How did the idea or MAFSA come
about?
Being the daughter of a Malawian
father and Zambian mother I
associated with many migrants
from these countries. I decided
to start Malawians and Friends of
South Africa (MAFSA) in the early
nineties aimed at having a year end
get together because there were
very few of us in the mid-nineties. I
wanted to create a platform where
we can get together and socialise
with people from our native land.
Our inaugural event in 1994 was a
small dinner that was attended by 20
people which grew to 50 people the
following year. In 1996, I decided to
involve others in helping to organise
our year end function and our dinner
MARTHA CHOOLWE BANDA GEORGE
at the Carlton Hotel was attended by
200 people. Since then, the word got
out about our activities and we have
managed to host a dinner and dance
for every year leading up to our last
function at O R Tambo Southern Sun
last year.
How was the event last year?
Last year’s event was one of our
best yet. It was well sponsored by
businesses and individuals including
Malawi Tourism and Air Malawi. We
had a few entertainers including
Lucius Banda and it was attended
by about 300 attendees who had a
fantastic time particularly because
drinks were free for an extended
period. Additionally, we managed
to raise funds for the Sonke Gender
Justice initiative and this was covered
in various media. The only negative
feedback we received from the event
was a few too many speeches as
most of the sponsors got to speak.
We will be looking to reduce this
when we host our function this year
at the same venue on 03 December
2011 with part of the proceeds going
to Reach out and Touch, a charity
organisation in Malawi.
We have been an unregistered
group up to now but we are in
the process of registering it as a
Non Profit Organisation in South
Africa. We intend to launch the new
organisation at the dinner. We have
a permanent MAFSA committee
as well as a rotating committee
each year that is responsible for
organising the dinner. It is good to
have a rotating committee as new
people come in with new energy and
new ideas. The success of each year’s
event is usually dependent on the
strength of the team organising it.
MAFSA is neither a political nor a
religious organisation. Our group
is made up not only of Malawians,
but also people of various African
nationalities. We are looking to
expand our activities to incorporate
those in the informal sector as well
as they sometimes feel excluded
from our annual black tie event
which is primarily frequented by
professionals and business people.
Beyond that we are in the process of
developing a website to increase our
visibility. At the moment, we have
a database of over 1000 Malawians
and can be reached on our new email
address [email protected]
or fax number +27866000149. We
are grateful to all MAFSA members;
we have survived for 17 years this
year because of their commitment
and contribution and look forward
to their continued support to make
a difference in our country and the
continent.
- Keith Kundai
F O U N D E R O F M A L A W I A N S A N D F R I E N D S I N S O U T H A F R I C A ( M A F S A )
“We have success-fully hosted a Malawi night din-ner every year since 1994....”
35WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
Martha with some of the Malawi Night 2011 organisers.
A M B A S S A D O RS O N N I S A M U E L Y U S U F , N E W N I G E R I A N H I G H C O M M I S S I O N E R
KnowYourEnvoy
hat was your
career path
leading up to your
appointment?
I have spent 30 years in the
Nigerian Foreign Service having
joined in August 1981. My first
overseas posting was to Kuwait in
1982 where I served for four years
before returning to Nigeria as First
Secretary in the Southern African
department. In this position, I was
essentially a desk officer in charge of
the liberation movement – ANC, PAC
and SWAPO. Thereafter, I obtained
a Masters in International Law and
Diplomacy followed by further
training in Negotiations and Crisis
Management. I assumed various
roles in foreign diplomatic missions
including Germany, Burkina Faso,
France and South Africa. At later
stages in my career I was deputy
director – Inspectorate Division,
Acting Director – European Affairs
Division, Director – Consular and
Immigration Division, Director of
Protocol to the President of the
Senate and recently Director –
Middle East and Gulf Division at the
Foreign Ministry.
How did you receive the news
of your appointment?
My appointment as High
Commissioner to South Africa,
Lesotho and Swaziland in January
this year was a pleasant surprise. I
believe that the government had
good reason for appointing someone
who is familiar with South Africa. This
will surely hold me in good stead in
the discharge of my duties. From
1998 to 2003, I was Consul/Head of
Chancery at the Consulate-General
of Nigeria in Johannesburg. These
were exciting times in the bilateral
relations between the two countries,
culminating in a strategic partnership
through the establishment of the Bi-
National Commission mechanism..
What are your priorities as High
Commissioner to South Africa?
Briefly, I have three main
priorities: First, to increase the level
of investment between the two
countries. Several South African
companies have invested in Nigeria,
but apparently very few black
businesses are involved in the mix.
I aim to increase the awareness of
business opportunities amongst
this group of South Africans.
Secondly, there is a lack of balance
in our investment and business
relationships as there are very
few Nigerian companies that have
penetration in the South African
business environment, seemingly due
to institutional regulatory barriers.
There have been indications for
several years that these impediments
would be addressed but not much
has changed. For instance, there are
only two Nigerian banks here namely
First Bank and Union Bank. In spite
of being here since 1999, they are
yet to be granted retail licences
and yet South African banks have
unencumbered access in the Nigerian
economic space. I am keen to address
the issue of such imbalances and
finally my role is to serve and protect
the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians
living in South Africa.
How would you describe your
knowledge of Nigerians living in
South Africa?
I interacted with them a
great deal during my tenure as
the Consul/Head of Chancery in
Johannesburg. There are numerous
professionals in academia, medicine,
ICT, financial sector and business.
There are also a number of
Nigerians in the informal sector
of the economy. The government
recognises the importance of
Diaspora and has established a
Diaspora Commission. The Nigerians
in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO)
which has representation here and
worldwide has become the foremost
organisation that the government
works with. However, Nigerians are
free to form other social cultural
associations whom we will also
engage for as long as they are
lawfully constituted and observe the
laws of our host.
Tell us more about yourself, your
interests and future plans.
I am a Pan-Africanist Christian
and chronic optimist. I am married
with four children who are all
students. I have varied culinary taste,
a connoisseur of good wine and a
lover of jazz music. I enjoy travelling,
reading and sports. Given my interest
in ICT, I am also a Microsoft Certified
Programmer. I do not have the
temperament for active and elective
politics and hence rather than seeking
office, I will probably be involved in
enterprise and philanthropy when
I eventually retire from diplomatic
service.
- Keith Kundai
37WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
KnowYourEnvoy
was first introduced to the name Dr.
Chomba Chuma when it appeared
in my inbox in 2007 inviting
me to a presentation on South
African property. A few days later I
joined a small group that had come
to listen to
the owner
of Mumbi
Properties
e x p l a i n
how to use
trusts to
create a property portfolio.
“I named the company Mumbi after
my late sister,” he informed me
when we met recently. “I got the
idea of forming the company when
I had acquired my fourth property
in the country and needed a vehicle
to manage them. I figured that
as my portfolio grew so would
the company. Unfortunately
we hit a rough patch when
the recession hit in 2008 but
things are slowly getting back
on track.”
Chomba was drawn to
property investment because
it allowed him to develop the
passive income the industry
promised by way of rentals and
capital growth. The bulk of his
time is taken up by his position
as the Managing Director of
Vitabiotics South Africa,
a company he
c o - o w n s
following a decision to venture into
the business world after a career as a
medical doctor.
“I ended up as a doctor due
to the Kenyan education system,”
he explained with a slight frown.
“When I got good grades the system
kind of dictated that I pursue either
pharmacy or medicine. I pursued
the latter at Moi University and on
completion of my studies and
internship I joined the Swiss
pharmaceutical giant Roche. Six
months later they posted me to
Johannesburg as the medical director
for Sub Saharan Africa.”
C h u m a
b e l i e v e s
t h a t
m o v i n g
w i t h
his wife
R i s p a h
whom he met in medical school
made the transition less difficult.
He worked for two years at the
company before joining Sanofi
Aventis as a national sales manager
for a blood thinner. While at Sanofi,
he established his own company
called Lighthouse Pharma selling
supplements through Dischem and
independent courier pharmacies.
“In 2006, after a year at Sanofi, I felt
that my company was doing well
enough for me to take a leap of
faith and run it on a full time
basis,” he recalled, this time
with a smile. “We were able
to get more products into the
Dischem chain of pharmacies
and in 2008 we decided to make
our company bigger by selling
a majority stake to our suppliers
Vitabiotics UK.”
When asked
whether the
D R . C H U M A , M D O F V I T A B I O T I C S A N D C H A I R O F K E D A S A
“Given the challenges you face as an entrepreneur,
I think it is equally important to sharpen your
emotional IQ as you would with business expertise!”
move to full time business was easy,
his frown returned as he explained
with an air of seriousness what the
trying times have taught him.
“I think one should go to a
school of psychology rather than a
business college when contemplating
becoming an entrepreneur,” he
advised. “I did a business diploma
and later pursued an MBA which
I thought would equip me for the
challenges ahead. Well, that doesn’t
prepare you mentally to be tough
when sales are slow and you have to
pay salaries.”
The biggest challenge that
Vitabiotics faced was that of
distribution. Chomba revealed that
to get a product like Immunace to a
place like Upington by courier costs
more than the product itself. Hence
it was a big break for the company
when their products were approved
for distribution through Clicks
which has about 400 stores and 280
pharmacies nationally.
“That was a new beginning for
us,” he beamed.
And speaking of new beginnings,
I asked Chomba about a new
association he has been at the
forefront of founding known as the
Kenyan Diaspora Association of
South Africa (KEDASA).
“We had a meeting in May to
form the association as an umbrella
body for the many different Kenyan
groups that exist in South Africa. The
inaugural office bearers are drawn
from these groups and so far we have
presented our views to President
Mwai Kibaki in Pretoria, hosted the
Commission for the Implementation
of the Constitution (CIC) and I
represented the association at the
meeting of Kenyan Ambassadors
held in Mombasa.”
At the time of the interview,
the association was also working
on a plan to mobilise assistance for
Kenyans who have been affected by
the ongoing drought in East Africa.
“The association has a draft
constitution largely borrowed from
a similar association for Kenyans
in Holland,” Chomba explained
continued. “It will guide the
membership and leadership structure
as well as establish a continuous
process for raising funds to make it
self-sufficient. It is important that
the organisation unlike the many
that came before it outlives its
interim office bearers.”
Conscious of the many
organisations that have previously
represented Kenyans in SA, I ask
Chomba what makes KEDASA
different.
“Being an umbrella body means
that we essentially have corporate
members including a number of
churches, Prokey, KESABA, student
bodies, KEFA and the Upendo
Women’s Investments Group. Our
approach is different seeing as
we are not competing with these
organisations but rather inviting
them to participate in a collaborative
effort. If you consider the success
of the CIC meeting, belonging
to an umbrella body facilitates
communication as the different
bodies bring in their members for
each project.”
Chomba is a 36 year old father
of two; daughter Lerato and son
Tsepo. His plan is to establish a few
companies in SA over the next decade
that can run themselves without his
involvement then return to Kenya to
participate in national development.
- KC ROTTOK
39WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
Event @ Southern Sun Grayston
07/12/11: Ambassadors & CEO’s Luncheon
Email: [email protected] to book
22 EXPATRIATE
ew defy parental prescriptions
to marry within your own
cultural group. It is interesting
that you are not allowed
to date in school and university
but as soon as you graduate, you
should promptly marry and provide
grandchildren!
During the learning stages,
whatever dating that is done is
kept a high profile secret from
parents (a.k.a the F.B.I). One has to
wonder whether they expect you
to find your life partner on your
first day of work.
It is also strange that they
then provide a dating manual which
usually states that you should date
“your own kind”. This means if you’re
Zambian, you best be dating that
boy you hit on the head with mud
pies when you were both five years
old, because he’s Zambian. If you’re
Ghanaian, you date the son of the
couple who housed your parents
when they first came to South Africa,
because he’s Ghanaian, the list is
endless.
For those who are children of
first generation expatriates, this is
a challenge. We attended schools
that were the breeding ground for
a multicultural approach to life and
were exposed to all kinds of children.
Once we leave the safety of the
educational halls, we are expected
to acknowledge our ‘differences’ and
behave accordingly.
Should you be lucky enough to
find someone “of your kind”, many
expat children can tell you that when
presenting him/her to the parents
you run the risk of being met with
the response of “Oh no, not this
one!” All the while, there are gentle
whispers and suggestions, which are
actually coercions, as to whom you
should be involved with.
I’m not saying that there’s
no merit to their system and I
begrudgingly admit that they are
often correct. A friend’s mother
THE EXPAT OFFSPRING’S JOURNEY TO THE ALTAR
once told me that when people
marry, differences exist because
they come from different homes,
and sometimes those differences
can be overwhelming. So choosing
your own kind minimizes conflicts in
differences such as religion, culture
and traditions. It makes it easier. That
was the best explanation I have
ever received about why we should
marry “our own kind”.
My point is, you may not
necessarily marry the one you date,
but you will date the one you marry.
So parents should bear in mind
that if I only start dating AFTER I
have my first (sometimes second
or third) degree, it will take that
much longer for the grandchildren to
put in an appearance.
Additionally, all the opportunities
and privileges our parents provided
us with come hand in hand with
exposure to people of different races
and cultures, and to a certain extent,
we see these people as being “our
own kind” as well.
Ultimately, I believe the decision
is no longer COMPLETELY an
individual one. It is yours and your
parents who, in truth, only want
the best for you. For the most part,
I believe that makes their views
tolerable. I would like to believe
that whether you make your own
choice or follow the advice of the
FBI, at the end of the day, they
both lead to the most important
thing in this life, and that’s love.
Sheila Lynn Senkubuge
“Date your own kind! It
will significantly minimize
the conflicts that arise from
differences in religion, culture
and traditions…”
ExpaT-TalK
41
MUSA KALENGA, SOUTH AFRICA’S YOUNGEST CHARTERED MARKETER
Pic: Paul Shiakalis
43WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA
he man is a star – whether
he’s a rising one or one
that is already shooting,
I’ll let you be the judge. A
baby in Zambia, a toddler in Scotland,
a school boy in Botswana and now an
achiever in South Africa – you would
battle to find a better argument for
a world view in one’s developmental
years.
I am talking about Musa Kalenga,
a familiar face on local television and
other media who recently acquired
the title of SA’s youngest Chartered
Marketer.
“I am the middle child in a
family of five children. We lived in
various countries before relocating
to Hillbrow in 1994. It was difficult
to adjust; our car was stolen shortly
after arrival prompting us to move to
Windsor. There was a lot of tension
between black and white kids back
then and I found myself acting as
mediator in school all the time. Having
been in
S c o t l a n d ,
I was not
t r o u b l e d
by issues
such as race
a l l o w i n g
me to focus
on studies
which earned me a scholarship to
Lonehill College and not too long
after, entry into Wits for a BCom
(Bachelor of Commerce) degree.”
While at Wits, Kalenga and a
group of about fifteen other foreign
students set-up Monatefellaz,
a website where they posted
anecdotes from their holidays, most
of which were spent travelling to
their countries of origin. The group
began hosting parties at Wits and
grew rapidly prompting Kalenga
to think about scaling it down and
finding a clear purpose.
“I became chairman of the Youth
Advertising Board of South Africa
while still at Wits. The experience
gave me a chance to interact with
the marketing fraternity and I soon
realized that big corporates did not
know how to market to young people.
I thought this was a gap Monatefellaz
could fill and set it up as a marketing
consultancy. I got my first client
when Richard Branson came into the
country with Virgin Money and their
partners ABSA approached me to
help them,” he recalls.
At the age of 24, Kalenga
employed about six people under
Monatefellaz which experienced
phenomenal growth as a result of
the company’s unique understanding
of the youth market.
“What we preached was that the
speed of change in the youth market
happens a lot quicker,” he explains,
“The mistake companies make is that
if they are doing a strategy now, they
are using information gathered last
year. For the youth market, that data
is probably already outdated. We were
experts in the youth market but I had
the desire to scale up our operations
by securing lucrative business that
is government work. But as the only
shareholder, it was difficult to do this
as we could never obtain a rating
that is higher than BEE Level 3. This
made me more amicable to the idea
of a buyout when my mentor Thebe
Ikalafeng approached me through
his Brand Leadership Group. The
transaction was completed this year
and Monatefellaz in essence became
part of their I-Hop division with me
heading up the division.”
Kalenga recently completed the
Chartered Marketer qualification
through the Wits Business School.
He explains that one needs ten to
fifteen years of marketing experience
to be awarded the qualification. He
however successfully challenged this
pre-requisite in an interview to get
into the programme making him the
youngest person in South Africa to
possess the qualification at the age
of 26.
At such a
young age,
K a l e n g a
has been
the subject
of various
f e a t u r e s
on radio, TV and in online and print
media. He has been featured on
M-Nets Carte Blanche, was one
of the bloggers for The Economist
and has been profiled in various
magazines including Drum, YOU and
Destiny Man. On DSTV, he was the
host of a breakfast show on channel
114 called Africa Awakes and later
hosted his own talk show known
“A baby in Zambia, a toddler in Scotland, a
school boy in Botswana and now an achiever in
SA – you would battle to find a better argument
for a world view in one’s developmental years.”
as the Kalenga Touch on the same
platform.
“I don’t believe that all publicity
is good publicity, but as a person in
business I think one can effectively
use media to position themselves.
A good example is when I appeared
on E-TV’s Maggs on Media talking
about the youth market, I received a
call the next day from a prospective
client who needed to consult in this
area,” Kalenga reveals.
I wrap up the interview by asking
Kalenga about his Zambian identity
having lived away from the country
for so long.
“Those who know me personally
know that I am Zambian although a
lot of the people I meet assume I am
South African. My knowledge of Zulu
and Zambian languages is equally
poor although I understand Afrikaans
fairly well. People in mainstream
media in Zambia have heard about
me and I am working on building my
clothing apparel brand called Zamboy
there. A broadcaster in that country
is also interested in my show Kalenga
Touch. I now have a Zambian ID and
have acquired land in the country.
Hopefully in a few years, I will have
business interests and residences in
both countries that will enable me
to travel back and forth. Other than
that I am in the process of writing
my first book,” he concludes..
-KEITH KUNDAI
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CATALYST OF CHANGE...
Pic: Paul Shiakalis
23
t is that time of the year when
I pre-occupy myself with the
world’s prestigious top ‘lists’,
whether it be predictions on
the Forbes Rich List, world’s most
influential, world’s most powerful, car
of the year or most importantly, the
Person of the Year. I could not quite
find any particular individuals this
year - not even the Nobel peace prize
winners - and so I settled on Africa.
The year is 1960, when several Africa
countries gained independence from
their European masters and realized
self-worth.
Several decades on, Africa has
once again hogged the spotlight;
this time for all the right reasons.
First, Africa’s leading economies
displayed great reverence for the
rule of law – at least with respect to
the global financial meltdown that
left so-called advanced economies
mired in indecision and their cities in
flames. They introduced standards of
governance for their banks and in so
doing kept their financial institutions
and prized assets away from the
clutches of the self-appointed
masters of the universe – the select
few very powerful financiers largely
operating beyond the bounds of
regulation.
Africa has continued to make
good news. Investors remain bullish
on Africa, lured by the promise of
its growing economically active
workforce, its expanding consumer
population, and of course, its
abundance of arable land and
mineral wealth. Private equity has
been a popular vehicle for these
investments. Governments in the
continent have largely resisted that
much feared concept of resource
nationalism, commonly referred to
as nationalisation or indigenization
at the moment, and are taking
giant steps to safeguard mineral
resources for future generations.
Consequently, we are seeing keen
efforts at beneficiation across the
mining sector in South Africa, the
establishment of sovereign wealth
funds in Nigeria and more planned
to save resource proceeds for the
benefit of future generations, from
Angola to Zimbabwe, more economic
regional integration, and so on.
In our march forward, Africa gave
the world yet another milestone to
celebrate – people first. While the
Arab Spring continues to smoulder
across the Middle East, Africa’s own
events have in the main concluded
successfully. We salute, and hope
upon our humanity that we will find
common cause in our new age of
promise.
As the world ponders both the
challenge and opportunity as earth’s
population reaches 7 billion, Africa’s
population is getting younger, better
educated and gifted with technology
in a manner unknown to previous
generations. Yes, they will continue
to be plagued by shortfalls in the
continent’s social agenda, but all
indications are that sound policy,
opportunity seized and investment
in the people will make a difference.
The world will also soon emerge
from the financial woes that have
undermined economic progress.
Africa will ride the supercycle.
Africa is crafting an extensive
agenda to ensure that it is not
undermined and forced to take upon
the burden of the world in managing
global warming evidenced by South
Africa’s hosting of the Cop 17 this
November - a conference of nations
seeking solutions to the threat posed
by global warming. I am reminded
of a lengthy conversation with the
former president of Costa Rica, Jose
Maria Figueres in which he said that
in the new climate friendly economy
towards which the world is moving,
the most advanced economies up
north will be considered backward,
but the countries of the south have
in their favour creativity, innovation
and technology that will leapfrog
many of the past inventions known
to man.
And so you can see, dear reader,
that we no longer need to dig
trenches on the ground and bury
copper wires for communication,
that banks are learning from us that
the next banking model will comprise
fewer branches (we can now bank
on the move), while our homes will
make power and share the surplus
when not needed, and so on. Africa
for the person of the Year: What’s not
to like?
Buntu Williams has 20 years media experience and is a
producer at CNBCAfrica.
PERSON OF THE YEAR: AFRICA BEARS HALLMARKS OF GREATNESS BEYOND 2011
46 EXPATRIATE
ExpaT-Talk
have dual citizenship. My Ugandan
passport is proper Africa while the
SA passport is like...well...Africa
Light. Unfortunately Uganda is
my insurance passport just in case the
Malema trial doesn’t go too well..... I
can’t go to Australia if things don’t
work out here. I am from Uganda so
this is actually my Australia!”
That was one of the jokes that
made me really crack up when I
went to see David Kibuuka’s stand
up show. A few weeks later, we met
at his office in Braamfontein for this
interview.
How would you describe the
experience of having your first stand
up performance – “Dave wasn’t built
in a day”?
It was fantastic! Normally when
you do shows, there are a number
of acts on the line up and you
don’t really get the chance to be
yourself. I don’t think a ten minute
performance is a true reflection of
the comedian. It was good to have
the whole hour to myself and it was
less difficult than I had anticipated.
It evolved from the first night as the
show was interactive and I was able
to tweak it somewhat depending on
the audiences’ responses. On the
final night my family attended it and
I therefore had a few more anecdotes
from my childhood in the set.
Speaking of your family, how
Ugandan are you?
Not very. I visit the country
once or twice a year and realise how
Ugandan I am not. For example, I
can follow what people are saying
but do not speak the language. Also
the references that people have are
completely different to mine. I visit
because I have many family members
there although a good number of
Kibuuka’s now live here. I don’t
think I will ever return to live there
although I may consider investing at
some point. I am like a Greek person
in SA; they say they are Greek but
they really aren’t because they don’t
live in Greece.
Was having your own one hour
special the highlight of your career?
I have multiple careers. It was
definitely the highlight of my stand
up career. However, what stands out
is my roles in movies, in particular
starring in Bunny Chow which came
out in 2006. We went out to France
and took part in the Cannes Film
Festival and to Toronto, Canada. We
have just wrapped up shooting a
movie called Blitz Patrol which is set
to be released in June 2012. When it
comes to my TV career, I have a slot
on Late Night News (LNN) which
shows on ETV as well as the Jozi
Show which is a reality show around
the musical duo Da Les and Ishmael
collectively known as Jozi who I also
manage.
Tell us more about these TV
Shows.
Well in LNN I am the
international correspondent so my
role is very specific. Any exposure is
good for someone in this business
but this is even better because it
revolves around humour which
is what I do. We follow the news
keenly and write the show by Friday.
We have the weekend to think of
any changes and shoot on Monday.
Like a naughty student, I always do
my homework on Sunday night.
As the Jozi Show revolves around
Jozi shooting their album with
collaborations with artists in the rest
of Africa, we anticipate a lot of travel.
We can also sell it to other networks
as it is not licensed like LNN.
What are the challenges you
experience as a comedian?
Well at the moment it is like a gold
rush. Everyone is trying to get into it
as there is some money to be made.
I think the challenge is to develop a
specific brand. The mistake people
make is looking over their shoulders
at other comedians worrying about
whether they are better or how much
they are making. It is much like life;
you need to chart your own path and
own style which demands originality.
Something that is not always easy to
do. Another challenge as a comedian
is getting a venue. Good venues
today are booked up to 2013. Finally,
it is always bad when you are on
stage and ‘you die’. That’s when the
ExpaT-TainerS
“I have a BCom degree but don’t think I will ever use it. Can you imagine if I went for an interview today – so what have you been up
to all these years? – telling jokes! No one would hire me.”48 EXPATRIATE
DAVIDKIBUUKA: UGANDAN-BORN FUNNY MAN
ExpaT-TainerS
22 EXPATRIATE
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audience doesn’t get your jokes and
greet you with silence like they don’t
know what you are talking about.
Tell us about yourself, what you do
in your spare time and what are your
future plans?
Well, my career is basically my
spare time! It is my hobby; sometimes
I get paid for doing a show and I find
it weird because whether I got paid
or not, I would still have done it as
it was so much fun. I have a BCom
degree but don’t think I will ever use
it. Can you imagine if I went for an
interview today – so what have you
been up to all these years? – telling
jokes! No one would hire me.
ExpaT-TainerS
I am writing a new show entitled
“Crazy man” and will be touring
with my current one in Edinburgh,
Scotland and Zimbabwe. I am also
halfway through writing a book.
- Carol Malonza
Our miserable expatriate womenverybody marries the wrong
person; that is if one is lucky.
There are those who have
even completely failed to
attract this wrong person.
It has become somehow
impossible and seemingly a wild
goose chase for many expatriate
women here in South Africa to get
married or more so find “a suitable”
partner. At the end of every working
day, most of these women head off
to their town house slums all alone
and sad with only a blackberry to
look at.
A few active ones pop into sex
shops and make use of the freedom
and emancipation singlehood has
brought them while the more
creative ones will initiate movies-
nights, go to nightclubs, gate-crash
parties, organize braais, go off to
holidays and bar hop, hoping to find
that elusive prince charming.
I believe the hardest hit ones
are those who were born and raised
in the former homelands and whose
parents immigrated to South Africa
during the apartheid era. They are
growing in leaps and bounds day-
by-day to almost a point of calling
a National Singles Conference in
Durban.
With bulging egos, access to
Menlyn debt and over-flowing fruit
and vegetable fridges, these girls
have set themselves up for fail and
are reasonably succeeding at it. They
have set impossible standards and
will often argue “a lack of suitable
men” forgetting that second best is
better than no man at all. To them,
most available men are a bunch of
irredeemable losers.
It is ironic that a single miserable
girl whose only noise is a bunch of
keys for the door to the empty flat is
calling others losers.
Many women out there are
trying as hard as they can to get
out of this quagmire but some have
resigned to their fate and often in
a tragic tone. They whisper in their
own ears that “there is no suitable
man for me out there and after all, I
am happy being single”
But where is the problem?
Unlike expat men who can and
have fathered children all over South
Africa, expat women won’t easily
do that. They first and foremost
detest South African men, calling
them short and too light-skinned.
Secondly, coupled with pressure from
parents and friends, most would love
to settle for men from their own
countries. But trouble is that these
men are so spoilt for choice when
it comes to South African women.
Mzansi girls keep us so busy that by
the time we think about our own
kind, we are already too tired.
I concede personal values are
important when choosing a partner.
But it all seems purely ideological
where one mistakes commitment
for servitude and believes that career
success is the new happiness. A strong
defence mechanism for financial
freedom is burying them deeper and
deeper into a solo popcorn-movie
lifestyle.
I think we should be more
HangingonwithHannington
flexible in choosing a mate or many
are likely to end up single and will die
trying to find the ‘perfect’ one.
Hannington Kasirye.
Istockphoto
“Expat women don’t fancy South African men, calling them too short or too light skinned. Expat men however have had no problem fathering children all over South Africa!”
here is a topic that has
been pounding in my head
like the aftermath of a red
wine hangover for the last
few weeks and has sparked many
debates with friend and foe alike.
The topic is the Dalai Lama
wanting to come to South Africa for
the Arch Bishop’s birthday party. Let
me start off by saying that as a citizen
of this nation, I don’t think I have
a right to know when Faithfulness
Ndlovu from Harare’s entry visa
is denied. Towing that line, I don’t
think that I have any right to know
whether or not the Dalai Lama’s visa
has been approved. The government
doesn’t have to tell me anything.
But, where I lose my nut is
when the government, in its infinite
wisdom, decides that
it needs to help the
SABC reach its revenue
targets by speaking
untruths. Two weeks
later -“the visa is still
in process” – hmpf,
mama didn’t raise no
fool!
Why not grant a
harmless old man a
visa to visit his fellow
freedom fighter on
his birthday. His
application should
have been viewed
on its own merits,
just like any other
individual visiting
this nation of ours. It
is not like he came
here to march with
Juju for our economic
emancipation or to
sing ‘Everyday I’m
shuffling’ with JZ. He
was just here to have a
cuppa tea. The irony in
this whole debacle is
that through refusing the man a visa,
the plight of the Tibetans was once
again put to the fore along with our
hypocrisy as a nation.
How quickly we forget that not
so long ago it was the same ‘non-
visa grantors’ who were oppressed
and considered persona non-grata
on their own land. It was them
that were the persecuted and down
trodden and many pockets of this
world stood beside them. With
their help we managed to gain the
emancipation of the people of South
Africa and with that, those that were
once spat on can now spit on others.
Shame on us.
But forget not the slot machine.
A few weeks prior to this debacle I
remember reading that China had
pledged over 20bn in trade with
South Africa. Note I wrote trade
not grant; we have something that
they want. Now put yourself in the
shoes of the government. You have
a nation for which you have set a
growth target of 7%, but for many
years, we have not even managed
to consistently achieve a 3% growth
rate. We promised millions of jobs
but with the economic slowdown,
we struggle to make a couple of
thousand a month. Along comes
Bruce Lee’s father with deep pockets
and a kick to boot and offers to spend
money in your country that will get
your economy moving and hopefully
reduce unemployment. What would
you do?
I know what I would. I would
try my best to be an independent,
self-regulated and self-run nation,
obviously taking into account what
at the end of the day is best for my
people. More importantly however, I
would want my people to know that I
am an honest government, my moral
compass is set right, I do the best for
my citizens and I cannot be bought.
Yaw Peprah is a self employed entrepreneur pursuing interests in business advisory, consultancy and commodity brokering. www.asitissoitis.blogspot.com
L A M E N T I N G T H E L A M A .“The irony in this whole debacle is that through refusing the man a visa, the plight of the Tibetans was
once again put to the fore along with our hypocrisy. Those who were once spat on now spit on others.”
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