Holiday makers give the KwaZulu-Natal economy a R2,4 billion boost for the festive period.

Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN) welcomes the announcement by Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Mr. Siboniso Duma that some 520 000 domestic tourists and 51 000 international tourists visited KwaZulu-Natal for the festive period, providing a R2,4billlion injection to the provincial economy.

Preliminary figures show that KZN’s occupancy rate from 26 December 2022 to 1 January 2023 soared to an average of 81% across the province against an early forecast for an average provincial occupancy rate of 69% at the peak of the holiday season.

TKZN Acting Chief Executive Mr. Nhlanhla Khumalo said: “It is pleasing that the province’s districts beat festive season expectations as this indicates that holidaymakers took time to explore other experiences offered across the region.”

“The closure of some Durban beaches due to the pollution, saw TKZN implement a strong summer season media campaign telling holiday makers that only some of eThekwini’s beaches were closed, and that KZN had 600km of coastline with many beaches including blue flag beaches on the south and north coasts. Moreover, the province has an array of other excellent tourist destinations from the Drakensberg to big-five safaris.

“The sharp increase in occupancies in the week from Christmas to New Year particularly in the northern and southern KZN districts suggests that our message hit home. The opening of popular beaches during December and Umhlanga beach on December 23 may also have encouraged last minute holiday bookings,” said Mr. Khumalo.

The tourism trade in the KZN hinterland also reported doing well. South Africa’s fastest growing hotel group, Anew Hotel has accommodation in Kokstad, Newcastle, Hilton as well coastal said it experienced an 80% plus festive season, which was a far better performance than 2021 and slightly better than 2019. Moreover 90% of the tourists were domestic, as people clearly wanted to “just get away.” It was also reported that there was an improvement in international tour groups coming to experience KZN’s big five safaris, however, this was not yet at 2019 levels.

The above hotel occupancy table indicates KZN’s district tourism preliminary performance. The 2019 occupancy figures provided are used as a comparison and a broad overview of the festive season performance.

In line with South African Tourism, we are using 2019 as a base line, however, a lot has changed because of the Covid pandemic, including travel patterns and available accommodation and length of stay.

Post Covid we have noticed that the holiday season has become a lot shorter starting on 16 December 2022, peaking over the week from Christmas to New Year and then dropping sharply in the first two weeks of January 2023 to 40% and 15% respectively, as holiday makers headed home. It must be noted that the provinces festive season figures reflect performance for the December period only and bode well for the final tally when the summer season draws to a close at the end of March 2023.

“Over the next two months we will welcome visitors for the popular Midmar Mile on February 11 and the Dusi Canoe marathon from February 16 to 18 and an array of business tourism events. We are also confident that we will achieve our projected economic impact for the summer season of R4.1 billion, based on a projected final occupancy rate of 70% by the end of the financial year,” concluded Khumalo.

Photo credit: www.drakensberghikes.com

Supplied.

Bowling in this heat is not for the faint of heart, so we’d like to start with a thank you to all of our members who have continued to play despite the soaring temperatures!

Our monthly J Leslie Smith & Co Nominated 2-4-2 competition was played on Tuesday, the 17th of January, with a number of bowlers braving the heat. What a fantastic morning of bowls and some very interesting results. A mention must be made of one particular game with Kevin Palmer and Wendy Smith playing against Steve Smith and Arlene Malloy. Kevin and Wendy picked up a full house on the 3rd end, putting the score at 9-2 to them. By the end of the 9th however, the score was peeled on 11 shots. The last 10 ends saw the two teams battling it out and despite the full house, a big congrats must go to Steve and Arlene who won not just that game with an overall score of 21-18, but were the winners of the day! Well down to both of them!

Well done also goes to Peter Storm and Darlene Ferreira who came 2nd overall, as well as Ken Hooper and Stephanie Crause who won the plate event.

A big thank you to J Leslie Smith & Company for their fantastic sponsorship!

Wednesday the 18th of January saw a fantastic turnout, with tabs in at 1.15pm, followed by the Midlands Hillbillies playing social bowls from 4.30pm and the Howick Darts League playing at 6.30pm. What perfect weather for another busy afternoon and evening at UWBC.

Saturday the 21st of January was the start of our club mixed pairs competitions with Colin Burden and Chantal d’Hotman going through to the next round after playing against Lisa Nagel & Neil Wright.

A fun evening of Bingo was held after bowls with Steve Smith doing a great job of calling and entertaining all those who participated. The bingo evening was a fundraiser for Lisa Nagel who will be playing in the inter-districts in Joburg in March, as she’s been selected for the NIBA B Squad. Thank you so much to all those who supported us; it was a real bingo bonanza!

We also had the Midlands Sharks Supporters in house to watch the Sharks game. Whilst the game had an unfortunate ending, the supporters club finished their evening with laughter-filled a bring and share braai.

And so ended another wonderful week at UWBC.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Friday, 27 January : SGK Nominated 2 Bowl Trips. Tabs In 08h45
Wednesday, 1 February : Halfway Toyota Drawn Trips. Tabs In 13h15
Saturday, 11 February : Greendale Spar 3 Bowl Trips. Tabs In 13h15
Tuesday, 21 February : J Leslie Smith Drawn 2-4-2 Nominated Mixed Pairs. Tabs In 08h15

Regular tabs in are:-
Tuesdays at 08h15
Wednesdays at 13h15
Saturdays at 13h15.

Visitors are always welcome.
For more information contact Wendy on 071 353 2866

Coaching by registered coaches is available: Contact Colin or Bernice on 071 164 3162 for further information.

Picture Caption – (L to R) Steve Smith, Lisa Nagel of J Leslie Smith & Co, Arlene Malloy

More about Umgeni Waterfall Bowling Club 

It is with so much pride and great excitement that we announce our Matric Results for 2022!

100% pass rate - 90% Bachelor degrees passes (IEB National Average was 89,32)

3 Candidates have achieved a Top 1% placement in a subject:

• Catia Coetsee – Mathematical Literacy
• Patricia Mangana – Business Studies
• Amber Van Alphen – Geography

(Pictured below L-R)

6 Subjects above the National Average:

Business Studies, Geography, History, IsiZulu, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences

Supplied.

We’ve certainly hit the ground running this year!

As usual there was a lot going on, so let’s start at the beginning…

The installation of our new floodlights happened over the course of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and boy do they look SPECTACULAR! A huge thanks must go to Build It for their generous donation, and also to Steve Smith and Kevin Palmer for their hard work in dealing with the installation.

Wednesday afternoon brought our Halfway Toyota Drawn Trips competition and congratulations must go to Edwin Speed, Steve Smith and Kevin Palmer for their win. Also to Colin Burden, Des Blackford and Darlene Ferreira who won the plate prize.

Wednesday night was a busy one with our darts league in residence. Anyone wanting more information can contact Amar on 082 970 4949.

Thursday involved the usual maintenance and a check on the lights once the sun had gone down. Did we mention that they’re spectacular!

Friday was a very busy day… lots of preparations during the day for our first “Friday Night Lights” which went off very well. There was lots of fun and laughter on the greens and what a pleasure to play in the evening when it had cooled down a bit. Everyone enjoyed a bring and share braai after the bowls and there was definitely much merriment happening!

Another exciting turn of events last week was the reopening of our snooker club. So wonderful to see the table in use!

Saturday saw a number of our players brave the heat to take part in the Greendale Spar 3 Bowl Drawn Trips and well done to Edwin Speed, Koos Marais and Singi Hlongiwe on their win, followed in second place by Colin Burden, Neil Wright and Clare Langston.

The week ended with Colin Burden, Steve Smith, Neil Wright and Koos Marais playing in the men’s NIBA Fours on Sunday. Whilst they didn’t place, we were so proud of their performance, as they gave all three of their opposing teams a challenging game. In fact they were peeled in the last end or two in all three of their games so they really did hold their own! Well done gents!

So that rounds up our week. Watch this space for more information on Friday Night Lights as we have some amazing things planned, and our lights really are spectacular!

FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, 21 January : Lisa’s Bingo Bonanza. Game starts at 18h00
Friday, 27 January : SGK Nominated 2 Bowl Trips. Tabs In 08h45

Regular tabs in are:-
Tuesdays at 08h15
Wednesdays at 13h15
Saturdays at 13h15.

Visitors are always welcome.

More about Umgeni Waterfall Bowling Club in Howick, uMngeni.

As we wrap up 2022, it’s a great time to pause and reflect on some of the design and décor trends that have shaped the last 12 months. After two and a half years of being masked up and locked down, 2022 was the year of easing back into normalcy.

We unmasked, and started to venture back to the office, shops and schools and even gathered again with family and friends. Despite things being business as usual, we are only now beginning to properly understand the real impact that the pandemic has had on our psyche and in turn, our design and décor choices.

Kim Williams, a top Cape Town interior designer, behaviour specialist, and owner of the Kim Williams Design studio, explains how many of the design and décor trends for this year have been influenced by our most recent experiences.

1. The value of zoning
Lots of us are still working from home this year, which has crafted a new appreciation for space, the privilege of having it and a deeper desire to connect better with it.

Larger families especially require separate living areas to work and recharge, as well as a communal place to energise and socialise, and a dedicated corner to play. This dilemma has forced designers to look at zoning areas off to create better fluidity, energy, and balance. This year, I have seen both commercial and residential clients invest in ways to make their spaces flow and work better not just because it creates a better user experience, but because it is likely to increase property values.

2. The return of the dining room
A separate dining room that flows off either the living or kitchen area has made a huge comeback this year. During the pandemic the dinner table was the centre of the home doubling up as a classroom, office desk and even a place for family entertainment. Now, it is a vehicle to bring loved ones together, especially during the summer entertaining season - a space that facilitates easy conversation and connection around a delicious meal.

Well-designed dining rooms can create an ambiance and atmosphere that are both casual and formal depending on the occasion. The most engaging tables are rectangular or round with comfortable, simple to clean seating and enough space for easy movement. Lighting is functional with elevated table scaping used to ramp up the mood and feel.

3. Health and healing
There has been a huge emphasis on mental health and wellness during 2022, with our homes acting as a tranquil sanctuary to escape from the chaos and confusion of the outside world. I have always believed that our living space can have a dramatic impact on our wellbeing and energy, promoting a desire for not just peace and privacy but also grounding, healing, and spirituality.

From a décor perspective, there has been a strong move towards warm and natural palettes that are soothing but also mystical and engaging, with the addition of comforting fabrics and textures to add layers of interest. We have also seen a lot of deepened heeling – which focuses on balancing masculine and feminine tones to ensure that the interior space is meditatively balanced and promotes healing for all.

4. Re-connecting with nature
Our desire for sustainability and eco-conscious design has been huge this year and will probably continue well into 2023. It has been amazing to witness the massive move towards recycling and repurposing. A lot of the younger generation especially have been bringing old memories from past generations to life by adding their own stamp and aesthetic to create beautiful quilts and wall hangings for example.

Being conscious of our planet is not just about opting for greener materials in our décor choices but also bringing mindfulness into the entire design process. As we go into the warmer summer months, the trend of opening the indoor and outdoor space is likely to become more apparent. Not only does this provide a wonderful connection to nature but it also extends our living space, adds more natural light, and allows for fresh air and the sounds of flowing water to breeze through the entire home.

5. Less is more
After having had to wear masks for so long, it makes sense that we have had a greater desire for us to be heard and seen during 2022. Although we have seen greater emphasis on the embracing of different voices, cultures, and individual interests when it comes to décor choices, it is important to note that the minimalist movement is still very much in vogue. Less is always more as is the yearning to shop for locally sourced materials, such as rattan, wood, stone, and weaves. Glass objects and translucent furniture have also been used this year to help reflect light and engage the eye.

Looking ahead, Kim says 2023 is going to be the year for exploring depth, especially when it comes to deepened healing. “The trends of this year will continue well into the next but with greater consideration of the impact they have on us and our surroundings,” she says.

After being cocooned in a grey world for so long, Kim is also looking forward to seeing the return of bright colours as the world bursts back to life.

For more tips from Kim Williams, sign-up for her blog at www.kimwilliams.co.za or follow her on Facebook and Instagram @kim_williams_design.

Photo credit: Decorex

Supplied. 

Thank you for browsing these pages during 2022. As a year fuelled by hope and filled with reimagining draws to a close we are sharing holiday season time changes from our advertisers;

Dynalogic - Closed from Thursday 22nd December at 2pm and will be reopening on Wednesday 4th January 2023 at 8am.

eL Intimates - Get your bra fitting done or a gift for a loved one. Book with Lydia on 082 714 1258 soon or after 6 January 2023.

Giovision - Appliance Sales, Installations and Service - Closed on 16, 17, 26 and 27 December 2022 and on 2 January 2023. Staff and management wish you a Happy New Year!

Midlands Hospice has set out the following Christmas Trading Times; Closed on 15th and 16th December 2022. Open on 17th December 2022 from 8am to 12.30am. Open on 23rd December 2022 from 8am to 12pm. Closed 24th December 2022 to 2nd January 2023.

Midmar Vet Clinic - Please take note of when the clinic will be closed over the holiday period, and Saturdays we are only open by appointment between 9 and 11. Wishing our clients who are going away safe travels. Closed 16, 26, 27 December 2022 and 2 January 2023. 

St Michael's Ambulance Service will be OPEN 24hrs a day for everyone’s needs during the festive season.

A Wood Owl's story... One of the most difficult parts of what we do is dealing with cases of poor husbandry, cruelty, and neglect.

On admission, the Wood Owl was very pale (Top image), had an overgrown beak and talons, damaged feathers, and sores (bumblefoot) under both feet, all from incorrect diet and husbandry. The difference in color between admission and a few weeks later shows the amazing change a correct diet makes and the feet show huge improvement after treatment and correct housing. A much brighter, healthier wood owl is seen in the photo below, taken prior to release.

In our province of Kwazulu-Natal, there are only three permitted wildlife rehabilitation centers - ourselves (FreeMe Wildlife) CROW (based in Durban) and Raptor Rescue (specializing in birds of prey).

But there are numerous back-yard operations where people without experience or access to proper medical facilities try and undertake wildlife rehabilitation.

Sadly, it is only the animals themselves that end up suffering because of this ignorance. And often, by the time they get to us, there is nothing left to do but end the suffering of the animal in question (and this makes us 'The Bad Guys').

Thankfully this story has a happier ending.

A special thank you to the Wild Tomorrow Fund and Karl Kramer for assisting us with this release.

We love what we do, and how we do it.

But we can't do it alone. Let's pull together to help our wildlife. Visit our website to see what you can do to support our work: www.freemewildlife.org/support-us

Stories of Paddington Bear have delighted children all over the world for nearly sixty years, find a copy of this classic at Nuts About Books and Toys in Mare Street, Howick.

When planning a funeral, one of the first decisions that you'll need to make is whether to choose cremation or burial. Both options have their own unique benefits, and the decision ultimately comes down to personal preference and cultural or religious considerations.
Cremation is an increasingly popular choice because it is often more affordable and also allows for more flexibility in terms of funeral planning. Cremated remains can be scattered, buried, or kept in an urn and displayed in a special place. It also eliminates the need for a casket or burial plot.

Burial, on the other hand, offers a traditional and more permanent way to remember your loved one. Burial allows for the use of a casket and the possibility of visiting a grave site to pay respects, it also offers a sense of continuity and connection to the land and community.

It's important to consider the wishes of your loved one, and also consider your family's own beliefs and preferences. You may want to also consider the environmental impact and any legal restrictions. A reputable funeral home can assist you in making the decision and can provide guidance and options on each of these alternatives.

Remember that what's important is to make sure that the service is meaningful and honours the memory of your loved one in a way that feels right to you and your family.

More about Oakleigh Funeral Home

The final seeding swim before the aQuellé Midmar Mile took place at Prime View Adventure and Leisure in Midrand over the weekend.

The event, which doubled as the Prime View Water Festival, gave swimmers the opportunity to achieve good seeding times before the aQuellé Midmar Mile, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary from 9-12 February 2023.

Making the most of the idyllic venue in Midrand were Henré Louw and Megan Shepherd, who claimed the respective men’s and women’s titles in the 1.2km swim.

Louw powered to victory in a time of 14 minutes and 43 seconds, with Rogan Shepherd well back in second in 17:15 and Ethan Kotze third in 18:12.

Megan Shepherd was second overall but the first woman out the dam in 17:14, with Rachel Smith second in the women’s event in 17:18 and 15-year-old Cassidy Sinclair third in 17:29.

Speaking after the race, Louw said he’s set his sights on victory at the aQuellé Midmar Mile next month.

“Training is going really well. I feel really good. We’ve been putting in some hard mileage in the last few weeks so I’m definitely going to go for the win at Midmar and give it my all and just see how fast I can do it,” he said.

As for the prospect of having more international competition in the mix for this year’s race, the Pretoria swimmer added: “The more competition the better it is, and the more fun the race will be. It’s always nice having some people that can push you to see how fast you can go.”

The battle for women’s honours was a much tighter affair with Shepherd just edging out Smith by four seconds in a sprint finish.

“That was hard work. Hard, hard work,” admitted Shepherd after the race. “I was pushing from the beginning... from the get-go we were all in a line, all of us going round. In that back stretch, I just kept pushing, just kept kicking.

“The water was a bit choppy so I just had to make sure I did long pull strokes to account for the choppiness and then at the last two buoys I just pushed it, I went flat out for as long as I could hold.

“I was hoping to win but my main intention was to better my time.”

Speaking about her ambitions for the aQuellé Midmar Mile, the Johannesburg swimmer added: “I would like to be among the top 20… I’m hoping to get top 10, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Pre-entry for the 50th anniversary aQuellé Midmar Mile closes on Wednesday, 25 January 2023. Those wishing to be part of the event should head to www.midmarmile.co.za for all the details.

Photo credits:
Henré Louw: Action Photo SA
Megan Shepherd: Photo by Roxanne Martin

Supplied.

As the aQuellé Midmar Mile heads for its 50th anniversary next month, there’s one swimmer who still holds a unique distinction.

Patricia Butcher remains the only female swimmer to have beaten the entire men’s field in the race – a feat achieved when she was just 15 years old.

Butcher stormed to victory in the 1980 race in a time of 18 minutes 13 to claim her first Midmar Mile title. Not only had she taken 1 minute 15 seconds off the previous women’s record, but she was also 7.6 seconds under the men’s record at the time.

Butcher, who went on to become the first woman to claim three straight aQuellé Midmar Mile victories, was no stranger to securing swimming titles. She was at one stage the South African record holder in the 200, 400 and 800m freestyle and won numerous national titles between 1980 and 1982, also winning the Best Women’s Performance award at the South African National Championships for three years in a row.

After claiming her third Midmar Mile title in 1982, Butcher never returned to the race, heading to the USA in 1983 on a full scholarship to North Carolina State University.

Now 58, she is still based in the USA – living in Boulder, Colorado and running an age group swim team, Flatiron Swimming, with her partner – former international swimmer and triathlete, Wolfgang Dittrich.

Looking back on her remarkable achievement in 1980, Butcher said: “I am very proud of that swim. I remember racing really hard that year. I also think I was fortunate that I took a really direct route that year too.

“Back in those days sighting your race was quite tricky. There were very few markers along the way. I remember sighting a large buoy/float close to the middle of the route and once I passed that marker, I would start sighting the finish ramp.”

Having started swimming the famous race at the age of 13, Butcher has fond memories of the event, despite not having been back since 1982. “I loved swimming the Midmar Mile. My memories of swimming the race are some of my fondest memories of swimming growing up in South Africa.

“I think what is also special about the Midmar Mile, is how it started off as just this really fun small local event (decades before open water swimming became an Olympic event) and has grown into one of the biggest open water swimming events in the world, drawing many top international swimmers.”

Butcher plans to travel to South Africa to be part of next month’s 50th anniversary celebrations for the aQuellé Midmar Mile but will not be swimming the race.

“It is just incredible how this event has grown. I am in awe of what Wayne Riddin has done with this event. I would never have imagined such an event could grow so big, but I loved swimming the Midmar Mile and I guess many others do too,” she said.

Speaking about her trip back to South Africa for the celebrations, Butcher added: “I am most looking forward to seeing old swimming friends I have not seen in 40 years, some of whom are still swimming the event today. I'm also very curious to see how big this event has grown.”

The 50th aQuellé Midmar Mile takes place from 9-12 February 2023 at Midmar Dam in KwaZulu-Natal. Entries to be part of this exceptional event are still open. Head to www.midmarmile.co.za for all the details.

Photos: Patricia Butcher in the 1980s and present day – supplied by Patricia Butcher

What is the Plan?

Very often one goes into business to make a living (hopefully a profit), to explore your passion, independence or personal growth. As we embark on our business journey we focus on our profits, customer service, and the quality of our product but we often forget a critical component of our business…staff. As our business grows we employ staff and they can either make or break the business.

The management or staff is often the most overlooked element in business. This is very dangerous to overlook as employee payroll costs are one of the highest costs in a business. So, what is your plan?

Each business must have an HR or people management strategy, the next question is how I develop such a strategy. The key is to start with your business goals and assess how the staff impact these goals.

Once you have defined these goals below are a few areas to look at in terms of your strategy, remember your staff is representing your brand and image in the marketplace.

1. Structure – every business needs structure. Expectations are to be created – but how? Performance expectations are created by having clear job descriptions. Having job descriptions in place which can be transferred to key performance indicators which are measured and managed. Policies, procedures and standard operating procedures are key to creating expectations and defining “how things are done”. In many businesses managers expect that employees should know how to do XYZ – never assume. Assuming leads to much time being wasted revisiting the same issues when there is no clear direction or standard. Without definitive workplace policies and rules staff will find every gap to play the system to their advantage. Without structure and clear expectations, one cannot effectively manage probation, performance and deviant behaviour these elements are key to procedural fairness when implementing the necessary remedies prescribed in labour legislation.

2. Skills – when measuring performance it will become apparent if you have the necessary skills to achieve your business outputs. It is very important to address skills gaps and draft employee development plans. These plans include training, a career plan and the assessment and implementation of back-ups of key personnel. Don’t believe so and so will always be there, however reliable, and loyal a person may be there are factors such as health, relocation of a spouse or an unforeseen accident that could occur. Always have a backup plan your business cannot come to a grinding halt because a certain key member of staff is off on extended absence or has left the business. Have succession plans in place for key personnel and staff who are going to retire, if you don’t have the skill in the business and can’t train and develop for the position recruit early, it’s hard to find the right person at the drop of a hat. Staff development plans and accessibility to training are key motivators of staff.

3. Recruitment – Conduct a thorough recruitment procedure and be careful who you let in the door. If you have failed at the recruitment stage it is harder to get the bad apple out later, the labour legislation has strict requirements and processes in place to deal with staff – rather don’t let the bad apple through the door. Don’t ever take a candidate at face value, an interview is marketing, the candidate will only give you what they think you want to hear. Do thorough background checks such as reference checks (try at least three previous employers if you can for a balanced overview), and credit checks for financial positions another good tool to use is psychometric tests. If there is a gap in a CV or something that does not make logical sense interrogate the gap phone the previous employer - dismissals are always masked as something else in a CV. You will not get away with failing to check a certain factor, if you failed to check you will need to manage the bad decision there is no automatic out for the information you failed to determine upfront.

4. Compliance - Ensure you are compliant with labour legislation. With all the best intentions in the world, ignorance is not bliss. If you are non-compliant the risks can bring a business to its knees. Examples of a few risks are – a CEO being imprisoned for a major accident due to non-compliance in terms of safety, designated employers in terms of the employment equity act not complying with the provisions of the act being up to 10% of turnover, fines and possible imprisonment for not abiding by the National Minimum Wage Act or employing foreigners without the necessary work permits, following the incorrect dismissal procedure and having to take a deviant employee back or paying an employee a settlement ordered by the CCMA… the list goes on.

5. Market-related salaries and fair remuneration - Your business could bleed talent if you don’t pay market-related salaries. You may be training and investing in your staff, while your competitors are lying and waiting to pounce and offer your staff a better salary. The cycle will continue as you train and develop staff, and your competitor poaches. The cost of recruiting training and orientating is high double-check that you are competitive in the market.

6. Culture – We have all heard the phrase “culture eats strategy for breakfast” all the above will fail if you don’t create a cohesive unit that goes in the same direction. How do you do this? Develop an organisational culture which is a way of doing things being the behaviours and standards that are required to be a member of the organisation. It’s best to develop these behaviours and standards with your team. The team holds everyone each other accountable to these standards, levels don’t count the cleaner can hold the CEO accountable and vice versa.

What are you going to do differently in 2023? Should you need assistance with a cultural session; HR, supervisory, compliance or disciplinary training; psychometric tests and background checks, compliance evaluations, and culture development sessions; or general advice please feel free to get in touch.

More about Infinity HR Consulting

A new year ushers in fresh hope and brand-new opportunities. Whether you enjoy setting resolutions or not, this is your chance to wipe the slate clean after a challenging and unpredictable 2022 and dare to believe in the impossible over the next 12 months.

Setting positive new intentions and aligning our minds to what we truly want can help us become the master of our own destiny and craft the life we’ve always wanted.

No one understands and appreciates this more than Larry Soffer, the leading mentalist in Africa. Having defied plenty of hurdles in his professional career, he’s remained steadfast and successful, and now shares some of his tips on how you too can have the best year yet.

1. Don’t be afraid to dream big
Observing what we daydream or fantasise about is a great way of figuring out what we want and what makes us happy. Allow yourself to envision what you believe to be your perfect scenario that will bring you the most joy and think about ways to make it a reality. Our focus should be on creating a life that we don’t feel the need to escape from.

2. Listen to you
Find a way to tune into your inner joy and stop and assess what is causing any unhappiness. Be prepared to ask yourself difficult questions and be honest with your responses. If for example, you have your dream job, but it doesn’t bring you happiness, then ask yourself whether it’s the profession that is upsetting you, or the company you are working for, or a colleague. We choose the lives we live so try to make it a good one.

3. Set some goals
There is always a solution to creating what you want. Never underestimate the value of having clear goals – without them, life becomes mundane and pointless. For most people, seeing something makes it more believable so having your goals written down somewhere where you can see them every day is very beneficial.

I also believe that there is no such thing as a goal that is too big. No matter how unattainable you think your goal might be, once you know what it is, you can then figure out the next steps to make it a reality.

4. Don’t waste time
Once you have your goal, it is so important to act immediately. Acting quickly eliminates the possibility of doubt creeping in. A friend once told me that the word decide comes from the joining of two Latin words – ‘de’ which means off and ‘cide’, which means to kill. Therefore, the word decide essentially means to kill off all the maybes and what if’s that are stopping you from achieving your goal. When we decide on something, it is almost like everything aligns like magic and the path to your goal becomes easy and clear, so don’t waste a minute longer than you should thinking of other things.

5. Consistency is key
My wife always says I am the most persistent person she knows. When I get an idea or have a goal, I never let go. When you get a few doors closed in your face it is easy to abandon your hopes and goals, but for some reason I am just not wired that way.

When all the events got cancelled at the beginning of the pandemic, I created a virtual show. It was the first of its kind and when I started pitching it to clients there was no uptake as people assumed the lockdown would be short-lived. I kept going though, pushing, and trying all avenues until online events became more popular and people were desperate for some entertainment. By that time, I was ahead of the curve, but it took a lot of determination. Consistency always wins. It is so important to keep the motion going and put in the work until you get to the end goal.

6. Believe in yourself
I am a very spiritual person and powerfully believe that I am capable of more than I realise. When I get told I can’t do something or if life knocks me down it is almost like a fire gets lit within me, and it makes me want to fight even harder.

Growing up, I was often told that I wouldn’t make it as a mentalist and that I should have a backup plan and take the traditional route, becoming something like a lawyer. However, in my mind there was nothing else that I wanted to do and believing in myself helped me become the best mentalist I could be.

I went on to become the youngest South African magician and mentalist to perform at the Magic Castle in Hollywood and the only one to be awarded a membership at that time. Even though I didn’t have the money or visa to travel to America, I really wanted to go and believed I should.

Once I made the decision, the money I needed was generously given to me, and I received my visa in four days. There were so many more challenges along the way, but because I made the decision those barriers melted away.

So, in 2023 become the master of our own destiny, dream big, and craft the life you’ve always wanted.

Larry inspires his audiences to believe in the impossible so that can achieve their dreams. Follow @LarrySoffer or visit his website for more information at www.larrysoffer.com.

ABOUT LARRY SOFFER

Larry Soffer – The leading Mentalist in Africa, widely and globally regarded as one of the best in Mentalism (magic of the mind) for acts of mind-reading, metal bending and telekinesis. Having conducted performances for over 27-years, Larry is an extremely popular live show and corporate event performer.

He is locally in high demand and his exceptional reputation is spreading fast across the globe. Larry’s unique corporate and private shows are a highly interactive combination of mind reading, thought prediction, mentally moving objects – with a touch of side-splitting humour.

Larry regularly showcases his skills at booked performances and on television and radio - where he makes spoons and forks bend across these platforms, affecting people in their own homes, this includes fixing broken watches, making light bulbs burst, reading thoughts, and making TV’s and even cars switch on and off.

Every year, many companies across the world turn to South Africa’s best mentalist Larry Soffer for memorable corporate entertainment from audiences of 50 to 6,000. The combination of separate performances allows guests to experience the best of both stage and close-up entertainment, at small or large gatherings.

He inspires his audiences to believe in the impossible so that can achieve their dreams. Follow @LarrySoffer or visit his website for more information at www.larrysoffer.com.

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Welcome to 2023!!!!

This year is going to be absolutely phenomenal as we have many projects in the pipelines, as well as some exciting competitions and fun days planned.

Also, we have numerous new activities starting up including:

Snooker - Every Thursday evening from 6.00pm
Darts - Every Wednesday evening from 6.30pm
Hillbillies – Social Bowls every Wednesday afternoon from 4.30pm
Whiskey Club - First Thursday of every month from 6.00pm
Midlands Sharks Supporters - During Sharks & Springbok games
Friday Night Lights - Fun Bowls on the second Friday of every month from 4.15pm

In addition to the above we’re going to host a fun social evening after tabs in one Saturday every month; this will involve fun activities such as bingo nights, quiz nights, games and anything else we can think of.

There’s certainly going to be a lot of great bowls and loud laughter this year!

FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, 11 January : Halfway Toyota Drawn Trips. Tabs In 13h15
Friday, 13 January : Friday Night Lights Fun Bowls. Tabs In 16h15
Saturday, 14 January : Greendale Spar 3 Bowl Trips. Tabs In 13h15
Tuesday, 17 January : J Leslie Smith Drawn 2-4-2 Nominated Mixed Pairs. Tabs In 08h15
Saturday, 21 January : Lisa’s Bingo Bonanza. Game starts at 18h00
Friday, 27 January : SGK Nominated 2 Bowl Trips. Tabs In 08h45

Regular tabs in are:-
Tuesdays at 08h15
Wednesdays at 13h15
Saturdays at 13h15.

Visitors are always welcome.

More about UWBC

Are you tired of power outages? No hot water - cannot cook?

Save electricity - save water etc. Try to get off the grid as far as possible!!!! We can assist you! We specialize in supply and installation of gas geysers!!!! We also install and repair all gas appliances. We are registered and can issue a Certificate of Compliance for insurance purposes.

Please call Wayne - ‪072 409‬ 0047 for a free quote!!

Take note, Gas To Go is situated on cnr Hilton Ave & Cedara Rd - diagonally opposite Crossways.

An ongoing talent shortage is forcing South African organisations to relook at the ways they recruit, train, and retain staff. Research shows that people under 35 are expected to make up 75% of the workforce by 2030 so the need to successfully handle a much younger workforce has become ever more important especially as older, more experienced employees exited the workforce during the pandemic.

We know that having fresh young talent is crucial to the success of a business, setting it apart from competitors but what is not so obvious is that more than a quarter are likely to quit in the first three years of joining an organisation.

Prudence Mabitsela, co-founder and managing director of Dynamic DNA, a 51% black female-owned, B-BBEE level two accredited QSE training and skills development provider explains that this is not just because young graduates lack the skills needed to adequately perform during the early years of transitioning to employment.

“Those businesses who want to survive need to know how to reduce attrition amongst this newly trained workforce and it begins by looking within. Many organisations today are severely limited when it comes to capacity, experience, and resources which means they are unable to successfully mentor and coach new talent - especially through the learnership process. Also, they don’t properly measure their output and performance and this greatly hampers young employees’ transition from learning to earning,” says Prudence.

Another major problem is the lack of enthusiasm and commitment from relevant internal departments to absorb and allow fresh new talents to learn and grow. “This is especially a problem in decentralised businesses where other teams and departments often fail to see the long-term benefits a younger workforce will have on their resources and outcomes,” adds Prudence.

According to Prudence, there are four simple ways businesses can ensure a smooth transition for young workers in their workplace:

1. Identify your talent gaps and recruitment strategy

You want to align these to potential learning qualifications and socio and enterprise development initiatives currently available on the market. This will only give learners the opportunity to secure a qualification that guarantees them a job, but also means the business can develop a strong and skilled pool of talent for the future and benefit from relevant tax rebates and skills spend for their BBBEE compliancy imperatives.
“At Dynamic DNA, our learning programmes bolster the practical components of our qualifications, and we also ensure that international certifications and standards are integrated to empower and develop our learners in their fields of study. These will be an advantage to them in the world of work,” adds Prudence.

2. Prepare graduates with work readiness assessments and training
“Companies need to take a more proactive approach to their entire recruitment process,” says Prudence. It begins from the onset with making a clear set of requirements and a thorough vetting process that only selects those candidates that will fit in with the culture and ethos of the business.
Once onboarded, these new talents need to be given clearly defined KPI’s and development opportunities which will help foster a sense of belonging and pride and boost confidence and morale.
“Graduates need to feel more than just a number or name on a tick box exercise, but a valued resource.”

3. Commit to internal mentorship
Companies need to look at the individual components and departmental gaps holistically to see how they can beneficially feed into each other when it comes to allocating experienced and committed mentors to new recruits.
“Young workers can become despondent if they do not have regular reviews on their input and performance. This engagement makes all the difference to their outcomes. Feeling acknowledged feeds into their passion to become more and paves their way into the business,” adds Prudence.
Organisations like Dynamic DNA can assist with workplace mentorship workshops that guide and coach young minds for the world of work, ensuring they too have a solid platform and support structure to facilitate this transition effectively.

4. Learn to manage well
Managing staff is an integral part of ensuring the successful completion of their learning journey, ensuring each candidate is well equipped with the knowledge of their role and responsibilities. “Good management will help dictate how serious an employee is taking their new journey and identify possible further mentorship opportunities, assistance and guidance that may be required,” concludes Prudence. On their side, Dynamic DNA even records and continuously manages their alumni database, ensuring a comprehensive network of candidates that will assist them in securing employment at no cost.

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