Paul Janisch

NEEEF - want to know more? So do I

This document is still somewhat elusive.  However the Namibian has offered the following:

1. the primary purpose of the proposed policy is to promote equitable, inclusive and shared economic development, to narrow income disparities between rich and poor over the next 25 years – from 2011 to 2036.  Not too different from TESEF, 25 years is a very long time.
2. previously disadvantaged Namibians will be given assistance through State-owned financial institutions like the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) and the SME Bank to buy into existing businesses on commercial or near-commercial terms. Oh no, just like the shambles that is ownership under SA's BEE.
3. the commission that will administer Neeef consists of representatives of Government, business, trade unions “and other organisations” including the Employment Equity Commission, the National Training Authority, the DBN, SME Bank and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. (OK)
4. “equitable”  means “a fair redress and redistribution action”.  It's not clear what is being redistributed.
   
5. “social” -  is defined as “how human beings relate to each other in production, class, gender and generational relations”.  That's very loose, why would you want to define such a word.  The document will reveal all.
6.  “previously disadvantaged” -  “victims of Apartheid policies” 
7. Neeef policy states that it will be based on “voluntary” business practice, it further states that non-compliant companies will not be eligible to tender for Government or State-owned Enterprise contracts. This cannot work in SA, as much as Rob would like it to.  It also precludes the government from procuring imports, because those companies would never have NEEEF scorecards.  Not a good idea.
8. There is to be a review every five years. Companies would score points on ownership, management control, employment equity and human resources as well as skills development.
   

The New Era reports that the private sector is very unhappy with the policy, they were not given much time to respond to it.  Also, and very pertinently

NEEEF replaces the Transformation of Economic and Social Empowerment Framework (TESEF), much to the disappointment of the private sector that says constant changes in the names indicates indecisiveness on government's part.

There doesn't seem to be much certainty in this policy.  And the one thing the private sector really appreciates, it's certainty.  Humans are very adaptable and will do anything you legislate, but the process is made so much easier if the parameters are well defined.

I'm still looking for a copy of the NEEEF, so if anyone has one please send it to me.

 

 

Davies: New BEE tender rules out soon (what on earth!!)

New preferential procurement regulations will come into force on December 7, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said on Monday.

Speaking during a debate hosted by I-Net Bridge, Davies said the first round of regulations would include infrastructure such as railways, set-top boxes and Eskom's Medupi power plant.

Companies with broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) ownership will score extra points when bidding for government procurement contracts.

via www.fin24.com

What!!!?

Is he now going to republish the PPPFA rules again. The current ones don't emphasise black ownership.

Rob, you are robbed of your senses - and your communication skills are, how do I put this politely..........shit!!

A reader writes - SANASking too much

Hi, do you know that the industry is now only open to registered auditors. SANAS have been instructed not to take any more applications from non-auditors for accreditation as by the time the current industry sanas accreditation starts expiring in 2013, we will be approved by IRBA in the future. In the meantime a complete monopoly has been created for auditors to take over this industry. Shocking but true.

Oy vey.  Doesn't bode well for having enough verification agencies to cater for the demand.  Would SANAS care to comment?  Would the DTI care to comment!

Oliver at four

Perhaps I was mistaken; I really expected the terrible twos to end on Oliver's third birthday. They didn't!!!

Still it has been another fantastic year with Oliver achieving so many milestones and creating mayhem and happiness across the board. He's no longer a toddler; he's now a little boy at nursery school. He's developed his own character traits and idiosyncrasies that have made him the most unique little boy in the eyes of his mother and father.

It's been quite a year for adventures, ranging from escapades at the park, going to America to visit his cousin Julia, playing soccer, swimming and camping and developing a passion for pirates. He is quite possibly the most passionate swimmer in the world; the swimming pool entertains him for hours (as it did his mother). It is a task to extricate him from the pool even when he is blue all over. Soccer hasn't really captured his imagination yet, but rugby has – here follows a typical interaction with his father:

Oliver: Daddy come play rugby with me

Dad: OK, I'll throw the ball to you, you catch it and run

Oliver (forthrightly): NO DADDY!!!!!!!!!! That's not how you play rugby!!!!!

Dad (perplexed): Oh?

Oliver: You are supposed to chase me, and then push me onto the ground and take the ball away from me

Dad: What about passing the ball?

Oliver: That is not how you play rugby!

At this point his old man picks up his wayward child and hauls him in front of the TV to watch a proper (Dad's definition) game of rugby.

Dad: Do you see that Oliver. They are passing the ball (it's very likely we weren't watching the Boks play)

Oliver (defiantly): No Dad, That's not how you play rugby in real life

We went camping a few weeks ago. My friends at the ATKV generously arranged a campsite at Buffelspoort for us. We had the best time ever, there is so much to do there and we did it all. We went on the big slide and swam in all the pools and ate lots of ice-cream. The best pool at Buffelspoort is the heated indoor pool, I have no idea what they put in the water but it relaxes you instantly. To get the best out of this pool you need to lie back and drift. Oliver was very happy to drift but he wanted to drift in numerous directions and jump in and splash. When we phoned his mother the next morning the first thing he told her was that he had had Appletiser before breakfast. On the way home he made me promise that I wouldn't tell his mother about how much Green Zodo (see below) he had drunk.

And so the fucking fours approach us, frankly I can't wait. His sense of logic is about as solid as his mother's and mine, it'll make for interesting negotiations over the next 12 months (or is that 12 years). His fourth year also heralds the arrival of his next sibling who is due to join us in the next four weeks. Our little boy now has the added responsibility of being a big brother too.

Oliver has developed his own vocabulary too – a few examples are

Struckening – lightening

Green Zodo – cream soda

Backson - a character from Winnie the Pooh (he was convinced it existed)

Cavavan – no we are not going to get one

Gum – gun

Pinksy dust – pixie dust.

Marzan – see below

 

Tradition dictates that I post two songs on Oliver's birthday.

Ollie Halsall - Airplane Food

 

Oliver sings this song at the top of his voice, his version of the chorus goes "I'll fly to marzan (perhaps Marzan)". He's been very secretive as to where Marzan is. This is off the only solo album Ollie produced (it was released after he died).

10 - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers - The Same Way

 

Each night after his story, I play him a song on my guitar. He often sits up and stretches his arms out wide and asks me to "play a lonn Peter Green song" (when quizzed as to who the best guitarist in world is he'll tell you it's Peter Green – although he has mentioned Ian Carpenter on occasion). I play this song every now and then. It's taken off the Bluesbreakers album, "A hard road" and is one of two PG originals on the album. I've always loved the guitar solo, it sounds like Peter Green doing Eric Clapton who in turn is doing Peter Green.  It's also Peter Green's birthday today (coincidentally).

Dearest Oliver thank you for another year. Remember that I love you all the way around the Milky Way and back

 

SA cancels much-delayed private prisons tender, reviews PPP model

The South African government has officially cancelled the much-delayed public-private partnership (PPP) procurement process for four new prisons, which would have added 3 000 additional bed spaces at the Paarl, East London, Nigel and Klerksdorp correctional centres.

The procurement process was initiated in October 2003 when a transaction advisory team was appointed to study the feasibility of delivering the facilities in partnership with the private sector.

The request for qualifications were released in October 2007 and the final tender on September 30, 2008. The bids were submitted in May 2009.

However, Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who took over the position in May 2009, instituted a policy and operational review, during which the bids were "not opened or evaluated" and were kept in a secure facility.

Mapisa-Nqakula said the review highlighted a number of financial and operational problems with the PPP model, including the fact that it conflicted with policy stipulating that security and custodial services of the State not be handed over the third parties.

via www.engineeringnews.co.za

In case you were considering bidding for this. The fact that these processes cannot be handed over to the private sector/third parties might be something that Pierre de Vos could consider discussing on his blog.

Namibia: TESEF replaced by NEEEF

WINDHOEK - The New Equitable Economic Empowerment Framework (NEEEF), Namibia’s new euphemism for black economic empowerment (BEE), has ruffled the feathers of the private sector.

The private sector says there was no prior consultation on NEEEF and that the new plan lacks determination to address the root causes of economic inequalities in the country.

via www.newera.com.na

The Namibians have a new transformation system which seems to have replaced TESEF.  This notice from the 19th of October (2011) tells us more  

The Namibian Government is to implement a plan that would empower previously disadvantaged communities to benefit from economic activities in the country. Prime Minister Nahas Angula tabled the New Equitable Economic Empowerment Framework (NEEEF) in the National Assembly

The New Era provides the following insight into NEEEF

NEEEF would make use of a rating system that allocates points to private companies on five empowerment pillars to determine whether they satisfy the requirement to be considered empowered. Fishing, manufacturing, construction, trade, tourism, telecoms, logistics, mining, agriculture and financial services, are the sectors targeted. 
The programme is to be in place for 25 years starting this year until 2036, but components would be adjusted according to experience and circumstances. 
A commission for Equitable Economic Empowerment will provide a written annual report to the Prime Minister and parliament on progress on NEEEF. 
There would be a review every five years. Companies would score points on ownership, management control, employment equity and human resources as well as skills development.

The article suggests that the plan is to be elaborated today.  If anybody gets an early release please send it to me.

Gaddafi should have been captured, not killed: Zuma

President Jacob Zuma said slain former Libyan president Muammar Gaddafi should not have been killed, but captured and tried at the International Court of Justice.

via www.businessday.co.za

It is decidedly rare that I agree with the president of the ANC (who moonlights as president of the RSA). But I believe he is correct here.

State blows R26.4bn in spree - understand the nomenclature

* Irregular expenditure: expenditure other than unauthorised expenditure incurred in contravention of or not in accordance with the requirements of the Public Finance Management Act, the State Tender Board Act or the government’s own supply chain management policies.

* Fruitless and wasteful expenditure: expenditure that was made in vain and would have been avoided had reasonable care been taken.

via www.iol.co.za

These are useful definitions. We'll see these terms often until the ANC shuts the press up

R7bn Gauteng hospital upgrade tender to open in December

The tendering process for one of Gauteng’s largest health care public private partnership (PPP) projects, the R7-billion revitalisation of the Chris Hani Baragwanath (CHB) hospital would open in December.

The Gauteng provincial government said on Monday the process represented a commitment to leverage funding from the private sector to deliver quality healthcare services to the public.

via www.engineeringnews.co.za

PPP season is back.  Not quite in full swing yet.  This PPP has such incredible potential for the local Soweto community.  

About the lying Minister and the dithering President – Constitutionally Speaking

Every day that passes without the President firing the Minister is a day in which the perception will grow that the President himself is a person who does not care when his Ministers tell blatant lies, bully their staff and waste money.

President Zuma, what are you waiting for?

via constitutionallyspeaking.co.za

Courtesy of Pierre de Vos. I was thinking that perhaps your esteemed president (he does not represent me) was going to sit on these numerous reports until each person approaches retirement and then claim that it has prescribed. Is it possible to find a more incapable individual to run our country? I fear that this may be possible.