It’s been a while since GEP hosted a face-to-face staff meeting, and many of us may not be familiar with each other’s names and faces after such a long period. On Wednesday, 14 August 2024 GEP held its Quarter Two: Staff Engagement, it was fitting therefore to kick off the gathering with an icebreaker to help us connect in a fun and engaging manner

Upon arrival, each colleague was instructed to pick a labelled cup from a selection of descriptors like “hardworking,” “productive,” “creative,” “multi-tasking,” and more. These labels were more than words; they served as a personal touchpoint for each participant.

After an opening prayer by Mr Tello May the Manager: Product and Capacity Development. Mr Dominic Maimela, the Programme Director requested that each person introduce themselves and share the reason behind their choice of descriptors. Whether it was because they saw themselves as “creative” or identified as being “multi-tasking,” this exercise offered a glimpse into each individual’s self-perception. It allowed us all to learn a bit more about our colleagues in a light-hearted manner. The activity was simple yet impactful.

Following our engaging icebreaker, the staff meeting proceeded with each executive sharing key updates and highlights from their respective units. Here is a summary of the main points discussed:

Mr Imraan Khan – Chief Operating Officer:

· Investment Analysts: Finding other means for funding is a priority such as partnerships to boost the investment team.
· Information and Communication Technologies(ICT) Systems: There will be efforts to enhance and upgrade our ICT systems for better performance.
· Recapitalisation: There are plans to strengthen financial resources.

Ms Nosipho Khonkwane – General Manager: Monitoring & Evaluation:

· Performance Achievement: GEP reached a 100% performance rating against the Annual Performance Plan, the best in three years!
· Audit Concerns: GEP received an unqualified audit due to irregular expenditure. This is a chance to learn and make improvements.
· Strategic Planning: It is the end of the five-year strategic plan for 2020-2025, plans to start planning the next one to set our future goals are in place.

Mr Tinevimbo Gondo – Acting Chief Financial Officer:

· Irregular Expenditure: The reason for irregular expenditure was attributed to poor contract management, therefore new controls will be put in place to avert this.
· Budget Cuts: With ongoing budget cuts, there is a need for creative ideas to improve debt collections, for that reason everyone is invited to share their suggestions.
· Audit Outcome: Unqualified audit with no material misstatement. Reduction of audit findings from the previous years. Improvement on irregular expenditure reported and all 2023/2024 audit action plans are being implemented.

Mr Sello Manoto – Acting General Manager for Corporate Support & Administration:

· Leave Liability: GEP is currently facing a significant leave liability , thus it becomes crucial for both employees and managers to ensure that leave is taken as needed to help address this concern.
· Performance Bonus: Employees who have demonstrated strong performance will receive a performance bonus of 6%.
· Employee Development Plan: This has been drafted and is aimed to provide opportunities for employees to strengthen their skills in various roles within the organisation, aligning with their career aspirations and supporting their studies and qualifications. At the end of the meeting, Ms Nono Kali the Acting Manager: Office of the Chief Executive Officer thanked all for their participation and contribution. Then Ms Thenjiwe Msomi the Manager: Organisational Development and Human Resource Development closed the session with prayer.

The key takeaway from this session was that engagement is encouraged, new ideas are welcomed, and the best way to move forward is to work together. Let’s continue to build on our successes and tackle our challenges with determination and creativity.

Link to Images

Q2 staff meeting photos

Retirement Celebration Honouring Ntate Nad and Aunty V

Retirement is not just the end of an era; it’s the beginning of a new chapter, filled with endless possibilities and newfound freedom. On Wednesday, 6 March 2024, we bid farewell to two of our valued GEP family members, with a mix of emotions, we said goodbye to Mr Nadas Pillay who was the Manager of incubation and Cooperative who served the organisation for 15 years. As well as Ms Valencia Anthony who was a Company Secretary Administrator and served the organisation for 16 years.

They have been an integral part of our organisation and have exemplified our values, leaving an indelible mark on everyone they’ve worked with. Colleagues spoke about their unwavering commitment to excellence and how their positive attitude have left a lasting impression on them. Though they may be retiring from their role within our organisation. Their presence will be greatly missed, but their legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all who had the pleasure of knowing them.

Celebrating a Remarkable Journey: Valediction Message from Valencia Anthony

Dear GEP Family,

As I stand at the threshold of retirement, reflecting on the journey that brought me to this moment; filled with gratitude for the incredible experiences, challenges, and growth that assisted in defining my career and character over the years. It has been an honour and a privilege to be a part of the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP) family for 16 years, as I now transition into this new season of life with confidence and expectation. Coming from small beginnings has made me approach everything with positivity, empowered to impact the lives of others particularly that of the less fortunate and vulnerable.

Before joining GEP, I worked at Mafube Publishing, a small enterprise that produced the “Sawubona” Magazine for SAA Flights. Unfortunately, the enterprise liquidated, leading me to new opportunities and experiences.

When I joined the Public Service, it was more than just a career choice for me; it was a calling to serve my country with dedication and integrity. I do not think that I chose corporate governance as a career path, it chose me.

At GEP, I served as the Company Secretary Administrator and my role involved communicating governance practices, monitoring compliance with the Company Secretary and Board of Directors, as well maintaining key corporate documents and records. I always believed that effective communication, governance, and compliance with regulatory standards are essential for success and sustainability. Making good governance the ‘heartbeat’ of any organisation. It has been a privilege to serve the previous boards of directors, executives, and managers in assisting them to execute their roles and responsibilities optimally to accomplish the mandate of the entity. Being part of activating the ‘Heartbeat’ of the organisation has been a phenomenal roll-a-coaster ride, each day unique, and challenging yet fulfilling. I had to navigate the intense pressure and responsibility that Corporate Governance demands.

This journey presented me with a wealth of treasures such as wisdom, inner strength, understanding, knowledge, and discernment, which is where I am today. I received ‘Beauty for Ashes’ through loss and grief over the years. When I lost my son Paul in 2010, my GEP colleagues, acquaintances and leadership were ready to support me, through an exceedingly difficult period in my life. I will miss the strong community support ‘Ubuntu’ culture that I embrace and value with tremendous gratitude. As they say, “When you are in the right place you are Celebrated; when you are out of place, you are only Tolerated, it is an indication to move – the right place awaits you”. Learn to know your worth, do not remain in a place or relationship where you are not loved or appreciated.

To aspiring young women just entering the marketplace and embarking on new career corridors, I would offer the following advice. Firstly, honour authority in all spheres of life, as it will present you with favour and longevity; this is a principle of life. Secondly, be mindful of who you connect with and who you invite into your inner circle of friends, as your company will determine your future. Remember the saying, “Show me your friends, and I will show you your future”. Thirdly, be intentional about how you live your life, and make sound choices, big and small, nothing good happens accidentally. It is wise to listen to those who have gone before you and have learned by experience the right and wrong choices to make through mentorship or coaching. Thirdly, discipline does not seem joyful immediately, but it will produce the peace of right living in due time. Lastly, learn to manage your time, finances, health, mind (thoughts) and relationships wisely. These are essential fundamental skills that will serve you well in both your personal and professional life.

As I look forward to this new season ahead, I envision a time filled with freedom and cherished moments with family, friends and acquaintances. While I may be retiring from my professional career, I am excited about what the future holds and a second chance to indulge in strengthening and developing important relationships that I have neglected over the years due to work commitments that inhibited my family time. I will also devote more time to helping people of all ages and cultures, empowering women, developing youth, and enabling seniors to develop new connections within their communities. Retirement will grant me an opportunity to serve others, to motivate and encourage them; to live a life more purposefully in this erratic world.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all my colleagues, both former and present, who offered me friendship, support, and camaraderie throughout the years. Your presence has made my time at GEP truly memorable. Whether our paths may cross again in the future or approach a cul-de-sac, may we continue to inspire, uplift, support and serve others wherever life may lead us.

As a parting remark, I hope that you will SEIZE THE DAY and make each moment count towards count toward fulfilling your potential. Today is not just another ordinary day, but today could present the most defining moment of our lifetimes in the mundane, it depends on how you choose to spend it. Choose to live a life of purpose – Intentionally.

With warmest regards,
Valencia  

Embracing Change – A Zoo Adventure Session

On Friday, the 26th of January 2024, the GEP Family embarked on a thrilling Change Management adventure unlike any other. The experience took place at the Johannesburg Zoo with great anticipation of what would happen next, as the invite only shared the casual dress code, which kept everything as a surprise.

The day officially started with a welcome note from the Chief Executive Officer, Saki Zamxaka. The session aimed to embrace change and know each other, by navigating through a series of challenges together. The facilitator then split everyone into 7 Groups, where each team needed to participate in a series of activities inspired by the “Amazing Race” and “Escape Room”, from decoding cryptic clues to solving brain-teasing puzzles, each challenge tested the team’s communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership skills. The teams raced against the clock; the spirit of camaraderie and friendly competition filled the air, driving everyone to push forward.

As the sunny day drew to a close. Everyone gathered for a debriefing session, reflecting on the lessons we had learned and the bonds we had formed. Through the challenges and triumphs of the day, we discovered the power of collaboration, adaptability, and resilience in the face of change.

To download the photos – click here.

A Farewell & Reflections From Ntate Nadas Pillay (Affectionately known as Nad)

As I embrace the joys of retirement after a journey filled with purpose and passion, it’s with a mix of emotions that I take this step—a bittersweet moment. Allow me to share a little as I start this new chapter. I am originally from Actonville, in the Ekurhuleni a region within Gauteng province. I am happily married to Debbie, and together, we have four adult children and four grandchildren. My journey as a political and cultural activist commenced in the 1980s, shaped by the Actonville Rent Action Committee and my unwavering commitment to progressive cultural organisations advocating for ‘unity in diversity’.

In 1996, my journey led me to the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG), managing the Procurement Unit of the Information Technology (IT) Department. This department’s evolution spanned from the Public Service Commission to the Office of the Premier and the Gauteng Shared Service Centre.

During my tenure at GPG between 1997 to 2008, I had the opportunity to work in various departments within the province and travelled to different countries as a delegate in the missions to understand how developing and developed countries deal with economic development.

A pivotal moment occurred during my role as Deputy Director of local Economic Development at the Gauteng Department of Economic Development. I was tasked to be the Secretariat for the Task Team investigating challenges faced by Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), laying the foundation for the establishment of the Small Business Agency, now known as the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP). Being part of the conceptualisation of a “Stand Alone Agency” for small businesses has been fulfilling.

Joining the GEP in 2008 was a call to contribute to the democratic government’s vision of “A better life for all”. While GEP has made significant strides in supporting small businesses, there’s a collective hope for increased budgets to provide more comprehensive incubation models.

What inspires me though, is GEP’s clear mandate to provide both financial and non-financial support to SMMEs and Co-operatives. Witnessing small businesses gain autonomy and contribute significantly to the mainstream economy has been deeply rewarding.

Within GEP, my heart lies with the Business Development Support and Co-operatives Unit, specifically the Business Incubation and Co-operatives Sub-Unit. Over the years, we’ve supported 375 co-operatives and over 600 members across various sectors. As part of the operations team, I appreciate each and every person, the dedication to excellence, collaboration and support of the leadership.

As I retire after 15 years of service at GEP, not from life, I carry with me vast experiences in the incubation and co-operatives space. I am proud of the support we’ve provided and the programmes developed to see co-operatives become sustainable. Leaving the organisation on a stable ground is a source of pride and relief; I am confident that it will continue with exceptional leadership and dedication.

To the youth, I advocate for embracing entrepreneurship and exploring opportunities presented by organisations like GEP and many others. Artisans and youth entrepreneurs have tremendous potential.

Looking ahead, my recent qualification as a Professional Director opens doors to contribute my knowledge to various boards in both the public and private sectors.

As for the future of GEP, strategic positioning in the next five years is crucial. Becoming a “One Stop Shop,” providing integrated support for small businesses under one roof will be even more necessary. This includes lobbying for a better budget to assist more SMMEs and Co-operatives.

In terms of service delivery, GEP is on the right track but could do more with a dedicated budget. The organisation excels in playing a pivotal role in assisting businesses to contribute to the mainstream of our economy.

I believe that the quote “Tell no lies, claim no easy victory” by Amilcar Cabral can serve as a guiding principle, not only in the context of my experiences at GEP but also in shaping the future endeavours of the organisation as it continues its mission of supporting small businesses.

To the GEP family, thank you for the incredible journey. It has been an honour to contribute to the growth of GEP and witness the positive changes in the lives of those we’ve supported. As I step into a new chapter, I do so with gratitude, joy, and a commitment to continued service.