Taking Back The Night - Grocott's Mail

Grocott’s Mail Tuesday, 27 April 2010Making a career of itBaBongile ZuluCompanies, universitiesand even aviationschools congregated atthe Diocesan School for Girls(DSG) on Wednesday for thefourth annual Careers OpenDay. this day aimed to assistGrade 11 and 12 learners froma few schools in Grahamstownin making informed choicesfor 2011 and beyond.Organiser Anne Preston,head of the school’s lifeorientation department, addressedthe learners beforethe day started by saying thatthe learners should makethe most of this opportunity.“there are a few more presentationsthis year than in previouscareer days, which aremore geared towards gap yearopportunities.” One such additionis the 43 Air School whichhad representatives talking tolearners about the option (andadventure) of becoming a pilot.Ayanda Singata, a Grade12 learner from NathanielNyaluza Secondary School,said she would love to becomea chartered accountant. “Mydream is also to open up myown business one day.” Anotherpupil from Nyaluza,Khanya Momoza, shared hisplans to study climatology atthe University of Cape town.“I like events such as thesebecause it just keeps us positiveand it’s great exposure.”Della Barkas and SallyFernandes are both grade12 learners from DSG. WhileBarkus is terrified of the prospect,Fernandes is excited.“We know we can handle theexams, but there are stillthose little nerves. We’d like tolaea MedleytHe economic crisis has caused many peopleto lose their jobs, prompting some to ventureinto the daunting arena of entrepreneurshipin an attempt to start their own business. thismay seem like a clever solution to unemployment,but in reality, it is no easy feat.Firstly, a feasible business plan has to bemade, which is then presented to a bank in thehopes of warranting a loan. then, dependingon the type of business, various documentsneed to be gathered and signed, fees need tobe paid to several government departments,and permits need to be granted. After all this,the business still relies on other people – thepublic – to remain afloat.In November 2005, Grahamstown residentWally Human started JC Shuttles, a serviceproviding transport for people to and from Portelizabeth, east London, as well as many othertowns in the province. “My son was working foranother shuttle service in Grahamstown, but hedid not get paid, so I decided to start the businessfor him,” said Human. “It was quite hecticin the beginning. Lots of people were messing itup, and the pricing wasn’t right. But eventuallywe managed to build up the business.”Human initially did not need funding forthe business as he was using his own car andmoney. But when the business grew, more vehicleswere needed, and he eventually receivedfunding from toyota.Another success story is that of PiratesPizza, the student business which took off in2007 with two students making and selling pizzafrom their university residence. In August2008, they opened shop at 38 Somerset Streetand in April last year, relocated to a largerWHAT’S IN THE FUTURE?... A learner at the Careers Day atDSG tries to decide which presentation to attend.Photo: Dominique Littledo a bit of travelling next yearthough,” said Barkus.Sponsor of the careerday, PriceWaterHouseCooperstold learners about theirprospects. St Andrew’s Grade12 pupil Charles Price-Smithfound the presentation “interestingand surprising” asa video was shown of a fewaccountants who are everythingbut what we thinkaccountants are. the videoTaking business into our own handsNewsshowed young and enthusiasticemployees of PriceWaterHouseCoopers, insteadof the number-crunching greysuit stereotypes. the companypaid the transport for theschools in Grahamstown eastto be able to attend.“I am happy about theturnout and how the day is going,it is growing every yearsince it was initiated in 2007,”concluded Preston.venue at 49 African Street. “We originally usedour own money, but later got funding from institutions.this was very difficult. It took aboutsix months for the funding to come throughbecause it took time to convince the investors.this was the most difficult part of the process,”said manager Chris Marshall.Some businesses struggle more than othersin starting up. Grahamstown residentJohn Falconer started John’s Shuttle Serviceafter struggling to get a job with JC Shuttles.“I started using my own car, but this was not easy.I had to pay a fee to the Department of transportand get insurance for the passengers,” he said.Falconer hasn’t applied for funding as he usesonly one vehicle. He is still waiting to receive anofficial permit to run the business.Some people make a business out of helpingothers to start a business. SMMe (Small,Medium and Micro-sized enterprises) Incentives,started by small business owner KumaranPoonan, is a website (www.smmeincentives.co.za)aimed at assisting those who wishto start their own business. the website pointsto the fact that there is R4-billion worth offunding and assistance available to small businesses,but that many people do not know this.Poonan aims to supply entrepreneurs withvaluable information about various businessopportunities in the country and to suggestfunding options and sources.Because of the challenging process ofstarting a small business, it seems as if theeasier option is to actually continue looking forjobs at existing companies, despite the currenteconomic climate. But with the right amountof determination and organisation, it has beenproven that starting a small business and successfully,is possible.Double graduation for momand sonMeggan MccarthyIt was a double achievementwhen tracey Chambers andher son Glynn graduated togetherfrom Rhodes Universityearlier this month. Glynn obtainedhis Honours-level Diplomain Accounting while traceyreceived her MBA degree.Glynn described the momentthey both graduatedas a special moment. “Beinga family of two, we wereboth over the moon to beon that stage together and Igot goose bumps when shestrolled across the stage toget capped.”Glynn said that althoughhe and his mother had one ortwo similar subjects, he jokesthat she would “rarely put herpride in her pocket and admitdefeat by asking me somethingthat she didn’t know.”tracey jokes that Glynn triedto help her with managementaccounting as she was “useless”at this.tracey is a single motherand a warden at Dingeman’sresidence at Rhodes. She isalso a Support Manager at theRhodes It division. She saidthat it took a lot of juggling tobe able to do all these thingsBongo JacoBstAxI drivers say that driverswho pick up hitchhikers makethem angry as the taxi industryis losing more money bythe day.the National Land transportAct states that a driverhas to be in possession of a validoperating license in order toferry passengers for cash, otherwisethey are not covered byinsurance.Many motorists are givinglifts to hitchhikers usinggovernment and company vehicles.Ncedo Kumbaca, theDirector of Communications atthe Department of transport inthe eastern Cape, said: “Peoplemust call the police wheneverthey are confronted by taxioperators and ensure that theyhike at the right places, not inareas where there are signsforbidding hitchhiking.”DOUBLE ACHIEVEMENT... Tracey and Glynn Chambers celebrategraduating together from Rhodes University.Photo: Supplied.while getting her degree.“time management wasessential. Glynn would saythat I never fed him for threeyears but he helped me a lot bytaking care of himself and bybeing understanding. I hopeI have inspired some peopleand shown that it is possibleto juggle various roles.”Glynn said he has seenhow studying further has increasedtracey’s confidencein certain aspects. “My momnever thought she could accomplishsomething like attaininga BComm degreethe department is engagingwith various role playersto address the issue. In Octoberlast year a hitchhiking indabawas held in east Londonwhere the matter was put underthe spotlight.However, taxi driverssay that allowing hitchhikingmeans no business for taxidrivers and it is a threat to thetaxi industry. It challenges theincome, profits and paymentsof instalments of the vehiclesused by the industry.east London taxi driverKhaya Ndlela has been in thetaxi industry for two decades.“Hitchhiking is affecting usbadly. this is my only sourceof income and from this I mustsupport five children and mywife.”He says that in the 90s taxidrivers used to make eight toten trips a day in distancessuch as from east London to13and now she has an MBA soshe has certainly surprisedherself.”tracey said that she’sgained people skills, timemanagement, perseveranceand confidence through herdegree. She plans to do a CertifiedProgramme in Highereducation Management fornow but her supervisor, ProfChrissie Boughey, has encouragedher to get her PhD.Glynn is currently doing hisarticles and Board exams atKPMG in Cape town to qualifyas an auditor.HITCH... Acommutertrying to hitcha ride toMthatha fromEast London.Photo: BongoJacobsTaxi drivers become irate withhitchhikersKing William’s town but nowthey only make one trip perday or none at all.“the money we make ispeanuts and from it we mustpay high taxi instalments makingit hard for some who endup committing suicide like MrHlekiso of Ginsburg in December2009.”One of the factors that ledto hitchhiking was the taxi violenceduring the late 90s buttoday commuters have otherreasons for choosing a lift overa taxi. Asanda Mkhosana, asecond-year student at WalterSisulu University, hitchhikesbecause it is much cheaper.“I only pay R50 to go toMthatha, rather than the R80charged in a taxi. Other commuterscomplain that the taxistake forever to get full especiallyif one is in a hurry, sohitchhiking becomes the onlyoption.”