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Our entire team at Meerkat are incredibly grateful to have been named as one of the top five large debt counselling practices in South Africa. The 2022 Debt Review Awards is a prestigious industry awards program with more than 1700 Debt Counsellors and over 8300 registered credit providers.

About Meerkat

Meerkat was founded in 2016 by David O’Brien. The Meerkat team aim to help our clients reduce their reliance on debt, and instead focus on building up resilience for financial emergencies. Each one of our solutions are simple, cost-effective, and tailor-made, which enables Meerkat to meet the needs of any individual, no matter what their financial situation may be. With each of our solutions, we aim to help our clients generate savings they can use in times of need. This positive savings balance will help to reduce dependence on debt and help to free up additional finances for our clients to begin investing in themselves and working towards their financial goals.

The Prestigious Award

The Debt Review Awards recognise excellence in the debt review industry by all role players and individuals. The Debt Review Awards are conducted through an online peer review system. This process allows the entire industry to voice their observations as to which firms had performed well throughout the year. The data is collected, and the top companies from each category are selected before a winner is decided.

There are six categories in total that are being awarded, and of the thousands of eligible nominees, only the top five are selected to win the award in their respective category potentially. Here are the six categories in the 2022 Debt Review Awards:

• Payment Distribution Agents
• Boutique Debt Counsellor Practice
• Small Debt Counsellor Practice
• Medium Debt Counsellor Practice
• Large Debt Counsellor Practice
• National Debt Counsellor Practice

The fact that we were nominated in the top five is a tremendous honour. At Meerkat, our team continues to strive towards excellence and to provide our clients with the best possible results.

We want to thank our clients for supporting us during our journey and helping us achieve such an incredibly prestigious award.

Load-shedding is here to stay, according to those in the know, and water outages or shortages due to poorly maintained infrastructure and climate change are likely to increase in frequency.

Providing tenants with solutions for energy and water issues is not a requirement of landlords. However, doing so is sure to attract them and will go a long way to retaining the good ones. In fact, demand is likely to increase with so many people working from home at least some of the time.

There are various advantages besides secured supply. For the tenant, an inverter supplied by the landlord will mean lower data costs and less wear and tear on costly electrical equipment like computers. Solar panels and grey-water systems will reduce their utility costs.

Such installations will also increase the value of your property and, if you live in Cape Town, could even make you some money. The City’s Demand Response Programme aims to, among other things, pay cash for excess electricity fed back into the grid. Initially, this is aimed at commercial and industrial customers, but it will be expanded to residents in time.

What tenants want

Most tenants are looking for cost-effective water and power solutions. They want to be able to save money on their monthly utility bills, and many tenants are also interested in eco-friendly water and power solutions.

Tenants also want water and power solutions that are easy to use. They don't want to have to worry about complex maintenance or installation procedures. Instead, they want solutions that are simple and straightforward.

Finally, tenants want water and power solutions that are reliable. They don't want to have to worry about their power going out or their water shutting off. They want to know that their landlords have invested in quality solutions that will provide them with the peace of mind they need.

If you keep these things in mind, you'll be able to choose the best water and power solutions for your tenants. By doing so, you'll be able to keep them happy and happy tenants save landlords money.

Inverters

Inverters are devices that convert direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC). This means that you can use them to provide power for your home or business, even when the grid is down. There are many benefits to using inverters, and they can be a great way to save money on your energy bill. Here are some of the benefits of using inverters:

They are more efficient than traditional generators because they only use the electricity that is necessary to power a few essential devices and appliances. They are also quieter than traditional generators, so you will not have to worry about noise pollution and annoying the neighbours. They do not produce harmful emissions either. Inverters are fairly easy to install, and you can do it yourself if you are handy, and if you buy lithium-ion batteries, they have a long lifespan, too.

Solar

The cost of solar can be a bit daunting. But there are creative ways to finance your investment, whether it’s through leasing, power purchase agreements, or renewable energy loans, which most of our banks offer.

With solar leasing, you essentially rent the solar panels from the solar company. This can be a great option if you don’t have the up-front cash to invest in solar or if you don’t want to deal with the maintenance of the panels. The solar company will usually take care of that for you. You can also rent to own.

The other option is to go for a solar loan. This is becoming an increasingly popular option, as it’s a way to finance your solar panels with little to no money down. You can get renewable energy loans from all major banks in South Africa.

It is important to do your research to make sure you have the correct system installed. A cheap installation will not add value to a property.

Rain-water tanks

With water shortages expected to become more common in the coming years, finding alternative water sources will become increasingly important. One option is to install a rainwater tank.

There are many benefits to using rainwater, including the fact that it is free and does not require energy to pump or treat like water from other sources. Rainwater is also a renewable resource, making it more environmentally friendly than other options.

Installing a rainwater tank can also increase the value of your property in dry areas. This is because rainwater tanks are seen as a desirable amenity, especially where water shortages are likely to occur. They can also help to reduce your water bills, as well as your carbon footprint.

If you are thinking of installing a rainwater tank, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you will need to ensure that your tank is properly sized for your needs. You will also need to ensure that it is installed correctly to avoid leaks. Finally, you will need to consider how you will maintain your tank and keep the water clean.

With a bit of planning, installing a rainwater tank can be a great way to save money and help the environment. It can also add value to your property.

The rainwater can then be used for garden irrigation. A good greywater system and a borehole are also excellent ways to reduce reliance on the municipal grid.

For more information on Just Property, please visit www.just.property or call (087) 583 3333.

From 30 October to 5 November, the KZN South Coast played host to some 215 in-person and 219 virtual delegates from 22 countries worldwide attending the 2022 Conservation Symposium. Talks by leading experts, networking and discussions were held at the upmarket venues, Premier Resort’s Cutty Sark Hotel and Dream Hotel’s Blue Marlin in Scottburgh, while a number of local establishments welcomed delegates, showcasing the many tourism offerings of this top MICE and events destination.

“South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise [SCTIE] would like to thank everyone involved in the organisation of this groundbreaking event,” commented Phelisa Mangcu, CEO of SCTIE. “It was a privilege for the KZN South Coast to host such an important ecological conference, particularly considering the local biodiversity and reliance our tourism economy has on healthy ecosystems. The success of this event also places the KZN South Coast on the map as a leading MICE and events destination, and we look forward to hosting more conferences at our many great venues in future.”

Mangcu extended thanks to Premier Resort’s Cutty Sark Hotel for hosting the Conservation Symposium: “This is a magnificent venue that is known for hosting events of international standard. The impeccable accommodation and service are a real reflection of the quality venues found here. Dream Hotel’s Blue Marlin, which also opened itself to the Symposium, must also be thanked for welcoming event-goers to the KZN South Coast through quality facilities and warm hospitality.”

Joy Crutchfield, the Deputy Chairperson of SCTIE, said The Paradise of the Zulu Kingdom proved itself the ideal venue for the symposium: “Through events such as this, we can continue to showcase the KZN South Coast’s many natural assets and work with all stakeholders to promote their conservation. From our Blue Flag beaches and world-class dive sites, to the hinterland experiences that combine natural beauty with cultural insight, this region’s tourism offerings are embedded in the conservation of our resources.

“I’d like to extend special thanks to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, CapeNature, WildOceans, WildLands, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Endangered Wildlife Trust, Nature Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers, and the Environmental Law Association for bringing The Conservation Symposium to our shores.”

Throughout the six-day conference, delegates gained valuable insight, and discussed possible solutions, on various aspects impacting conservation today. Some of the speakers and their topics included:

Prof Guy Midgley, School for Climate Studies at Stellenbosch University, the plenary keynote speaker How should we think about conservation under a changing climate? Key findings on biodiversity and climate change.Nonhle Mngadi, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife - Investigating the factors influencing the increasing cases of illegal cattle grazing in Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife protected areas in KZN.Wendy Collinson-Jonker, Wildlife and Transport Programme for the Endangered Wildlife Trust, the session keynote speaker on Linear infrastructures and biodiversity.Onkemetse Nteta, SADC TFCA Financing Facility at IUCN working in Trans-frontier conservation areas in the SADC region.Dr Reece Alberts, Environmental Management at North-West University - Applying the theory of planned behaviour to tourism-related waste behaviour in marine protected areas: The Aliwal Shoal case study.Kate Handley, Executive Director at Biodiversity Law Centre - Biodiversity litigation: Emerging trends.Cath Jakins, Campaign Co-ordinator at Blood Lions NPO - The unregulated nature of the commercial captive predator industry in South Africa: Insights gained using the PAIA process.Nqobile Sibiya, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife - Sustaining livelihoods through reed harvesting.

SCTIE arranged several tours for delegates to enjoy in the Scottburgh area after the formalities of the day. These included a visit to Ntelezi Msani Heritage Centre in Mthwalume where delegates were immersed in local culture and treated to spectacular performances by Zulu performers; and a tour of Crocworld Conservation Centre with a talk by Riverbend’s Howard Kelly.

A frogging outing by Dr Jeanne Tarrant proved to be hugely exciting when the Endangered Pickersgill’s Reed Frog was discovered at TC Robertson Nature Reserve. Another highlight the sundowner paddle on Mahlongwa River with Nandimvelo’s Matt Machell-Cox.

The Conservation Symposium organiser, Freyni du Toit, said that the KZN South Coast had been the perfect setting for active engagement on a cross-sector of conservation issues. “Valuable research, ground-breaking insights, best practice and impactful solutions were shared by leaders in various fields of conservation. This event was held at a critical time for our planet, with the effects of the climate crisis immediately evident to all stakeholders. I believe everyone is leaving this symposium empowered with what needs to be done, and clear on their role in conservation. We all have to work together for a better, healthier future,” added du Toit.

Special thanks were extended to the event sponsors who were instrumental in the success of The Conservation Symposium. They include SCTIE, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, South African National Convention Bureau, National Research Foundation, CapeNature, WildTrust, HPH Publishing, Mpenjati Coffee, The Green Net, Briza Publications, Flora & Fauna Publications, Thirsty Elephant, Riverbend Wine & Art Gallery, and Crocworld Conservation Centre.

The KZN South Coast, which boasts 11 quality golf courses, Blue Flag beaches, world-renowned dive sites and extreme sports adventures, is the ultimate destination for business meetings and events. To facilitate the planning of business-focused events, SCTIE has also compiled the Meeting Planner Guide – a comprehensive, one-stop directory for all business conferences, meetings, teambuilding and accommodation requirements. This is available at www.visitkznsouthcoast.co.za.

To find out more about the KZN South Coast’s great #SummerReady tourism offerings and events, download the free ‘Explore KZN South Coast’ app from Google Play and Apple stores; visit the ‘South Coast Tourism’ on Facebook or YouTube; @infosouthcoast on Twitter or Instagram; ‘Info Ugu South Coast Tourism’ on LinkedIn; www.visitkznsouthcoast.co.za to check out the Events Calendar, the KZN South Coast Meeting Planner Guide and more!

To access previous SCTIE press releases, visit: https://www.visitkznsouthcoast.co.za/category/press-release/

By now, biometric technologies have been rapidly growing worldwide enabling countries in Africa to advance from old technologies and shift to modern innovations. Identity management programs like fingerprint and facial recognition scanners are second nature to many mobile users worldwide.

With biometric technologies rapidly growing worldwide enabling countries in Africa to advance from old technologies and shift to modern innovations. Identity management programs like fingerprint and facial recognition scanners are second nature to many mobile users worldwide.

Umbono Conferences Events will be hosting the 1st Biometrics Africa Conference on the 23 &24 November 2022 at the Focus Rooms, Modderfontein. The conference is being organised as a hybrid, giving the delegate the option of attending physically or virtually.

The conference programme consists of four sessions and a panel discussion which takes place on Wednesday, 23 November 2022, 14:30 – 15:20. The topic is “Combating the biometric fraudster using data analytics”.

Moderated by Tawanda Chatikobo, Head: Digital Strategy & Innovation, Retail & Business Banking Digital at Nedbank alongside:

• Dalene Deale, Executive Head, Secure Citizen
• Simphiwe Phakathi, Executive Head, Lesakatech
• Kevin Mani, Director, Nuance Africa Enterprise (SA)
• Masechaba Wessie, Divisional IT Executive, Liberty Group (SA)

The Panel Discussion will focus on the different aspects on what financial institutions are doing about the implementation of biometrics and the evolution of behavioral biometrics technology as cyber attackers are becoming much more sophisticated, and our reliance on digital services is increasing.

With over 20 speakers presenting less than four sessions, the speaker panel also includes organisations such as the Symbiosis Institute of Digital & Telecom Management (India) ,Access Bank Botswana , NAMFISA(Namibia) , Experian (Uganda) ,FluidRock Governance Group (South Africa) ,Digital Frontier (South Africa) ,University of Johannesburg (South Africa) , CENFRI (The Centre for Financial Regulation and Inclusion – South Africa), Beka Finance (Spain) , Secure Citizen (South Africa) , Nuance Communications (South Africa) , OpenUp (formerly Code for South Africa),LexisNexis Risk Solution (UK) ,BDO- South Africa and Women in Identity (UK) ,

Delegates will have the opportunity to network with a wide variety of professionals from international and local thought-leaders, experts and influencers.

Topics to be covered include assessing risks in a digital age, convergence of Bioethics and Biometrics, biometric technology in banking institutions: 'the customers' perspectives, preventing fraud with frictionless biometric authentication, digital and biometric identity systems, behavioral biometrics fraud protection see the full programme here.

Register now and be part of the discussion on the evolution of behavioral biometrics technology, how it works today, and what the future will hold.

Using code PANEL#06 will qualify for a discounted rate of R1 500 on the normal physical registration fee of R8 700 and the virtual of R6 000.

Registration form

Alternatively, you can contact the project manager Thunile Nkosi on 061 443 2165 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sunday 16 October marks the global commemoration of World Food Day, the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) - a date that is focused on increasing awareness of world hunger and poverty and inspiring solutions for world change. It also marks the three year anniversary of food rescue and hunger relief organisation SA Harvest and the celebration of its 30 million meal milestone.

According to the FAO, “Three years into the pandemic, two things have come into sharp relief. One is how interconnected our economies and lives are. The other is that on the road to recovery, too many people are being left behind and are unable to benefit equally from innovation and prosperity.” SA Harvest’s work in developing solutions to hunger are aimed at addressing this imbalance, the constitutional right to food and the broken food system in South Africa.

Alan Browde, CEO of SA Harvest, founded the organisation three years ago in response to what was already, even before the ravages inflicted by COVID and the subsequent lockdowns, an inconceivable reality – that over 13 million people were going to sleep hungry every night while 10 million tonnes of food was wasted every year in South Africa.

Commenting on the factors that have fuelled SA Harvest’s growth and the significant achievement of 30 million meals delivered in three years, Browde says, “Our growth has been exponential, and this can be attributed to a quite outstanding team which is dedicated to our mission to end hunger in South Africa. Of course, we would not have been able to do this without the incredible generosity of both our food and money donors and we are eternally grateful to them for enabling our ability to give service to millions of hungry South Africans.”

SA Harvest offers a unique end-to-end food rescue and hunger relief solution, sourcing both perishable and non-perishable foods, and excess fresh, nutrient-dense food from across the food supply chain, including at agricultural, manufacturing and retail level. Drivers collect the produce from food donors and deliver them in SA Harvest’s refrigerated vehicles, either directly to vetted beneficiaries or to its warehouses in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban for later distribution.

Hunger in South Africa has reached unprecedented levels, and Statistics South Africa’s latest report shows that inflation is still being driven by rising food and fuel prices, with food inflation hitting even higher in August at 11.5% (up from 10.1% in July).

Yet the resilience of South Africans remains intact. SA Harvest’s over 200 beneficiary organisations are the epicentre of its rescue operation and continue to meet the ever-increasing need in their communities through their capability to safely handle, prepare and distribute nutritious meals to their recipients.

Having delivered the equivalent of 30 million meals and rescued 9,1 million kilograms of food from ending up in landfill in its first 36 months, SA Harvest has demonstrated its capabilities in applying the solution of food rescue to addressing the hunger problem. But Browde remains resolute in his belief that systemic intervention is needed if we are to end hunger: “While food charity, which is, of course, one of the key pillars of SA Harvest’s activity, is crucial at this time in South Africa, it will not in itself end hunger. It is incumbent on organisations working within the hunger relief space to ensure that, while feeding people, they also work on initiatives that will create the structures for reducing reliance on charity and ultimately ensure food sovereignty and independence. This requires intervention at the systemic level, which SA Harvest is taking very seriously with many appropriate projects underway.”

Follow SA Harvest’s journey on Instagram or for more information go to www.saharvest.org.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS PLEASE CONTACT VANESSA NAUDE ON 083 271 6000 OR This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

ABOUT SA HARVEST
SA Harvest is taking a revolutionary approach to ending hunger by addressing the systemic causes and leveraging innovative technology, while simultaneously tackling the immediate need through the effective solution of rescuing nutritious food and delivering it where it’s needed most.

Even though Cape Town narrowly escaped a drought four years ago, water scarcity still plagues most of South Africa. Recent research from the Water Resources Group suggests the lack of available water will worsen in the next few years with a third of the world’s population expected to be living in significant water stress come 2030.

For big businesses like shopping malls who have just about recovered from the pandemic, the threat of unreliable water sources spells disaster. Without water, mall tenants like restaurant chains and hair salons will be unable to operate, shoppers unable to use toilets, and everyone’s health, safety and hygiene put at risk if the mall doesn’t have enough water to maintain cleaning standards and be able to put out a possible fire.

Several of our shopping centres did implement some meagre water-saving measures during South Africa’s most recent water crisis, but according to Mannie Ramos Jnr, the COO of Abeco, installing a few tap aerators are simply not enough.

As a pioneer in water storage solutions, Abeco has been supplying their steel water storage tanks to almost 80 large malls across South Africa for more forty years now. Regarded as the world’s first bank for the business of water, Abeco’s mall clients include some of the largest in the country like Cresta, Mall of Africa and Sandton City in Johannesburg, Canal Walk in Cape Town, Mall of the North in Polokwane, and Oceans Shopping Centre in Umhlanga.

“Malls are a major economic driver in South Africa with more than 300,000 square metres of new leasable retail space set to be completed across the country this year alone. We are seeing a lot of this new retail space being developed outside of major cities, where there is unmet demand. This is concerning as we know that remote regions often don’t have reliable water infrastructure to begin with,” says Ramos.

For them to reduce, harvest, store and recycle enough water to be self-sustained in the future, shopping malls developers, their owners and managers must act now. Ramos shares six tips of what some malls have already been doing to secure their water supply:

1. Storage is key: As many of us have learned from loadshedding, failing to plan is planning to fail. Storing water in tanks has been done for centuries, allowing us to measure water consumption and track water saving for continuity of service. Longbeach Mall in the Western Cape for example installed five 10,000 litre tanks, which will be used as backup if the taps ever run dry.

2. Ensure rainwater harvesting: Although rainfall in South Africa can be unpredictable, using a combination of rainwater harvesting and innovative storage reduces the reliance on other sources of water and ensures year-round supply. “Table Bay Mall is a relatively new shopping development on Cape Town’s west coast and over the past six months have been used the contents of their 10,000-litre rainwater harvesting tank for cleaning and waste management purposes,” explains Ramos.

3. Filter, Filter, Filter: Correct filtration can mean your grey water can even be used in air conditioning cooling towers, which tends to use a lot of water. The two boreholes at Table Bay Mall each have filtration plants so that the water can be used in the main toilets and urinals and not just for irrigation purposes.

4. Building with sustainability in mind: Shopping mall developers should consider closed-circuited water systems, where unused water can be collected and then passed through various systems before being reused around the property.

5. Reducing reliance on unsustainable public water infrastructure: Consider installing low flow toilets and sinks which connect to a greywater system. Any non-potable water can be drawn from large, on-site storage tanks that are filled with rainwater and only toped up by the municipal grid if necessary. AT Table Bay, the municipal water supply is collected in nine domestic water tanks (with 20,000 litre capacity each). These have been designed to supply the mall with reserve water for approximately three days in the case of water interruptions.

6. Keeping tabs on global developments: Water technology is constantly progressing with some incredibly efficient desalination plants already in operation in places like Israel. Even architects are playing their part, designing buildings in such a way that they maximize rainwater harvesting. “At Tyger Valley Shopping Centre in Cape Town, the centre has even appointed a water expert to assist with scientific water-saving methods for the future so don’t be afraid to think outside the box and try something revolutionary,” concludes Ramos.

Water is a scarce resource and yet is one of the most important in the world, second to air. Without water, nothing can survive, including business, so it is essential we act now to secure this precious life-sustaining resource.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Get Published
Nadia Hearn 
074 923 3835

Concerned by the rising cost of living and high rate of unemployment in South Africa, particularly amongst our youth, health and wellness stalwart NeoLife is on a drive to grow its entrepreneurial programme by 20% in the coming year.

The direct selling business has a 50-year track record of operation in South Africa (63 internationally).  Formerly known as Golden Products and GNLD, NeoLife health and lifestyle products have provided income generating opportunities for millions of individuals during that time.

“There has never been a better or more important time than the present to give people the power to live healthier and happier lives through entrepreneurship thereby bolstering our efforts to overcome the ravages of unemployment,” said Drew McDermid, Vice President of NeoLife in Southern Africa.

McDermid’s comments are borne out by the global performance of the direct selling sector.  According to the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA) of which South Africa’s local body Direct Selling Association is a member, global direct sales increased by 2.3 per cent year-on-year, from US$175.3 billion in 2019 to US$179.3 billion in 2020.  

“The challenges of the COVID years saw a rise in micro enterprises and the so-called ‘gig economy’.  No more so than in Asia and Africa, where entrepreneurship and self-reliance is even more of a necessity than elsewhere,” McDermid says. 

According to the same report, the Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) experienced by individuals involved in direct selling opportunities over the last three years, continues to increase exponentially, despite COVID and other challenges. 

Entrepreneurship is the obvious answer for many of the challenges facing South Africans, however the success rates among traditional business start-ups are dismally low.  In South Africa alone, five in seven businesses fail within the first five years according to Cova Advisory.

Direct selling benefits

“Direct selling provides enormous opportunities for entrepreneurship.  There are comparatively few barriers to entry and no capital is required outside of a small sign on fee of under R1000.   Extensive training, personal development and ongoing mentorship are provided to ensure the entrepreneur gets the best start to his or her business,” McDermid adds.

 NeoLife, for example, undertakes all business administration, provides distributors with a personalised website and mobile app, as well as providing warehousing, marketing, logistics and training. 

“This means our distributors can focus on the  all-important income generating aspects of their business,” he adds.

Health and wellness trends

NeoLife’s value proposition is based on health and wellness and providing products that are backed by thorough science, research and development. Last year alone, the global entity NeoLife International invested millions of dollars in independent scientific research to ensure products produced were of the soundest quality and promoted individual health.

“Modern day diets, over processed foods and obesity have resulted in a global trend of poor health.  Research has shown that a bad diet is three times more dangerous than smoking in terms of its impact on the human body,” McDermid says.

“Yet currently in the US alone an estimated 80% of adults take a vitamin supplement daily.  In South Africa that number is 48%, which we believe will increase exponentially over the next few years,” he continues. 

“There is a growing opportunity in the market for good whole food supplements and earth friendly products that work and that people can trust. I truly believe that we have a product line that is well positioned to help people succeed in a changing world,” he says.

For McDermid and his team at NeoLife, it’s a perfect storm being driven by two trends – the first sees an increased demand for high quality supplements in the wake of chronic disease and the desire for prevention and long term good health. The second trend is a surge of individuals looking for ways to make extra money to improve aspects of their life, secure their future, or quit the rat race and start a home based business.  NeoLife addresses both.

Income generation opportunities

According to First National Bank, 56% of middle income South Africans spend 80% or more of their salary within five days or less.

“The steady increase in our cost of living, static incomes particularly among retirees , and high levels of unemployment, all point to the fact that more people than ever before are looking for a way to generate income in their part time from home,” McDermid says.

“If COVID and lock down taught us anything, it was that if you don’t have a way to make money from home you are at risk. Economies are in decline, job security is currently at an all-time low, while cost of living continues to climb.

NeoLife is on a mission to give everyone the power to live happier and healthier lives. We want to end the trend of poor health and financial stress that affects millions of families globally,” he concludes.

Software escrow is increasingly being drafted into service as one of the ‘first line defences’ when it comes to protecting banks and their customers from cybercrime.

This is the conclusion reached by business continuity and risk associated with IT systems expert and Managing Director of Escrow Europe, Andrew Stekhoven.

Referring to two recent announcements – one by the Bank of England and the other by the Singapore Monetary Authority – Stekhoven said the financial industry’s reliance on information technology, in particular for cloud services, is enhancing the risk landscape and requires a clear regulatory response.

“The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is the financial regulator in Singapore and also the country’s central bank,” he said. “Nearly a decade ago, it issued guidelines to help financial institutions build sound technology risk management frameworks, strengthen IT system security, and safeguard sensitive data and transactions of all the clients.

“The TRMG are regarded as one of the most comprehensive, elaborate and robust guidelines in the world. But they were recently revised to include instructions for escrow protection, and to specifically extend the TRMG to all third parties including outsourced service providers.

“Importantly, they also addressed documenting and implementing standards and procedures for vendor evaluation, selection and controls, and implementing safeguards and putting in place source code escrow agreement if the vendor is unable to support the financial institution,” he said.

Stekhoven explained that The Bank of England had acted similarly in April this year when it shared a series of proposals focused on outsourcing and third-party risk management within financial market infrastructure firms. Last year, it had also published operational resilience policy, this noting that a major priority for the Bank, the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority was to create a robust regulatory framework to ‘promote operational resilience’ amongst financial market infrastructure firms,” he said.

He pointed out that, taken together, these demonstrated the Bank’s continued drive towards operational resilience amongst financial services providers, given increased reliance on third-party technology and software.

“Of particular note,” added Stekhoven, “is how the Bank highlights the importance of contractual and escrow arrangements between customer and third-party providers.

“It specifically states that software escrow agreements are one of the most effective, proportionate and cost-efficient measures to managing third-party technology risks with cloud, software and technology providers.”

For nearly two decades, during which time Escrow Europe received an Institute of Risk Management of South Africa (IRMSA) award for its role in assisting South African businesses manage their mission critical business risks, Stekhoven has pointed out that most commercial and governmental institutions are often entirely dependent on software over which they have limited or no control.

“One of the biggest mistakes all companies make when evaluating risks to their business continuity is to neglect to consider and acknowledge how dependent their annual revenues are on technology platforms over which they have no control,” he said.

“For corporate entities, this is often measured in millions of Rands, and yet this clear and present danger is often ignored or grossly underestimated.

“A sound, common sense approach to mitigating disaster, active software escrow provides cost effective relief and security for a business. In today’s technology dependent business world, active escrow agreements between an end-user organisation and the supplier of the technology it utilises are a necessity, not a nice to have.”

• Profitroom’s premium booking platform and ancillary offerings are now more easily accessible to hospitality clients in South Africa and further afield across the sub-Saharan region.
• Existing South African clients Sun International and Gooderson Leisure increased direct online revenue by 178% in 12 months and 57% in just three months respectively.
• Profitroom on Tour, taking place from 2 – 19 August 2022, will see the Profitroom team host events in South Africa’s major cities, giving hospitality stakeholders the opportunity to get to know its offerings a little better.

Global hospitality specialist, Profitroom, has officially launched in South Africa, making its premium booking platform, CRM software and other innovative hospitality solutions accessible to  hotels and resorts in sub-Saharan Africa.

Profitroom is an award-winning booking engine that can be built into existing websites for hotels and resorts to boost direct bookings and optimise revenue through their own platforms. Profitroom’s offerings also include a suite of other complementary solutions – marketing automation, a channel manager, digital marketing services, and a website builder specifically tailored for hospitality stakeholders.

“The sub-Saharan hospitality market has evolved considerably since the onset of the global pandemic, and it is more crucial than ever for hotels and resorts to implement cost-saving features as well as rethink their customer experience strategies,” says Michael Puffett, head of Business Development for Profitroom South Africa. “The Profitroom booking engine achieves this by boosting revenue and profitability through direct sales, with a significantly lower commission base than online travel agencies.”

The global hospitality solutions company has already made headway in its goal of becoming the largest booking engine in the sub-Saharan hospitality market within the next few years, having acquired prominent hospitality accounts such as Sun International, Gooderson Leisure Group, and Dreams Hotels & Resorts, and is currently in negotiations with numerous other hotel groups.

“Sun International increased direct online revenue by 178% in 12 months since it first started using the Profitroom platform and reduced its reliance on online travel agents by 43%. Similarly, Gooderson Leisure boosted its online revenue by an additional 57% in just three months,” adds Puffett.

“Profitroom was designed with boutique, stand-out hospitality properties in mind that have a higher room rate and offer unique packages and experiences, such as spas, game drives and tours,” he adds. “Through impactful features like automated personalised offers and vouchers, and even the ability to manage abandoned bookings, hotels and resorts can provide customers with seamless experiences that not only convert lookers to bookers, but that also keep guests coming back again and again.”

For more information on Profitroom, along with success stories and case studies from global hotels and resorts who have used the platform, visit www.profitroom.com.

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Profitroom powers more than 3,500 outstanding leisure hotels and resorts across the world. The award-winning Profitroom Suite exposes a hotel's full business potential with the complete set of e-commerce tools and industry-leading experience personalisation. The Profitroom reservations platform supports all channels and yields direct bookings performance. It's built on the guest-centric foundations to strengthen guest loyalty and retention.

We believe hoteliers are seeking platforms to empower their revenue growth but also to satisfy their guests' expectations. Our team of 225 experts inspires hoteliers with the newest and most powerful technology and guarantees 5-star customer success and support in 7 languages.

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360  Booking Engine, Channel Manager, Hotel Website Design & Development, Hotel Reservation Solutions, Marketing, Advertising, Hotel Consulting, Hospitality,  Email marketing, Payments, Direct Booking, PMS integration, and CRS integration and CRM.

Whilst South Africans are frustrated with having to contend with hours of loadshedding, FM Solutions, a leading Facilities Management company since 2002, says these long periods of power outages offer the ideal opportunity to test the capacity of built-in systems and to perform much needed inspections, maintenance and repair jobs that require a complete shutdown of the facility.

“Shutting off the main electricity supply to a building can be disruptive for most organisations - particularly those who run 24/7 operations. It is an important, yet complicated project that needs to be carefully managed and coordinated in order to limit disruptions and “downtime” as much as possible. For this reason, many companies avoid check-ups because of systems reliance and disruption to business,” explains Lydia Hendricks, Business Development Director at FM Solutions.

Although annual shutdowns are not legislated as compulsory, Lydia stresses that it is best practice in risk management when assets are serving critical systems of the organisation, or in aging buildings.

“It’s the same as when you’re changing the engine oil or fixing a flat tyre. Even though your car is able to drive for a while, you know you’re doing it to allow for optimal performance, to avoid costly repairs later on and you’re gaining a lot in efficiency and safety at the same time”.

Lydia provides insights into the most frequently asked questions relating to complete facility shutdowns:

How often must a complete facility shutdown typically take place?

Medium Voltage (MV) Switchgear and transformer upgrades are the only services that would require a full shutdown to affect maintenance upgrade and major repairs.   A complete facility shutdown is not necessarily to affect maintenance but is advisable to test the critical interconnected systems that serve the building. During this time, the equipment capacity should be tested, and the related maintenance interventions identified to ensure the ongoing stability and safety of the building systems – necessary in the event of total blackouts or fire in a building.

Other typical systems that should be tested during facility shutdowns include fire systems, lifts, emergency lighting, back-up power capacity, HVAC extract system to name a few. Most assets have guarantees and warrantees that stipulate maintenance conditions and frequency of maintenance servicing to ensure its reliability and longevity.  This could range from monthly to once a year – or in some cases at a three-year interval, depending on the type of asset. The frequency usually specifies the type of maintenance that is required, but it is vital for these maintenance and servicing tasks to be done in order to uphold the terms of the guarantee. 

Some of these assets often form part of (or are interdependent with) other critical systems that aid the overall safe function of a building.  For example, smoke detectors are linked to a fire panel and a Building Management System that send warnings when emergency intervention is required. Failure to service and test the links to this panel could result in critical communication being compromised and ultimately lack of response to these alarms would result in serious losses if not attended to.  

Reinstating systems when contractors attend to their side of maintenance is often the main reason for system failure and in most cases found after an incident has occurred.   

What are some of the safety requirements that need to be taken into consideration (and be complied with) during such maintenance upgrades?

Risk Assessments and Safety Task Analysis should be a standard process in place that should be enforced when embarking on a full shutdown of the power.  Typical risks linked to a shutdown are that the entire building will be in complete darkness and therefore synchronising and step-controlling the process with contractors responsible is important to ensure the safety of the teams responsible for the tests.

When it comes to testing fire systems, the safety of company assets should never be overlooked. This includes release of escape doors and their operation to ensure safe evacuation.  For the same reason, a company’s security staff (technical and non-technical) should be reminded to also regularly check that these automatic doors are open for evacuation.  Their presence at these exit doors are important to monitor and secure the building during the test phase.  

How does FM Solutions go about preparing for a planned shut-down to perform the necessary upgrades, repairs of maintenance at a client’s facility? 

Our safety systems support these activities.  Furthermore, we have set procedures for such documented and critical systems highlighted and scheduled right from the inception of contractor engagement.  We execute and implement maintenance programmes in accordance with project management principles and measure and manage all risks on behalf of a vast amount of clients we provide this service for. In agreement with our client, these tests are planned, communicated and executed. 

Who is involved in this planning and preparation phase - both from the side of FM Solutions and on the client’s side?

The planning and preparation of a shutdown should be coordinated by a Senior Technical Manager or Project Manager in the FM team. Shutting down the power to the building will have an impact on the entire business and all stakeholders should therefore be considered and consulted - especially infrastructure and IT as they are responsible for business  support systems – the life-blood of any organisation, so they are directly impacted.  In the case of shopping centres, retailer engagement is critical as they have to shut down their own interdependent systems and be on standby to switch systems back on when power is restored. As mentioned earlier, it is important to also coordinate with security to avoid ingress and egress of anybody who is not involved in the shutdown.

Conclusion:

The practice of shutdowns is often ignored because it can be disruptive as it comes at cost of service provider time and core business down-time.  However, the value of doing these shutdowns is negligible if you consider the damage that can be caused if important maintenance tasks are not regularly performed (the damage caused at Parliament’s House of Assembly after a fire extinguishing system failed to kick in timeously, is a sad and telling example).   

FM Solutions has the expertise and experience to coordinate and manage complete facility or system shutdowns, keeping cost and disruptions to a minimum. We develop an affordable and manageable preventative maintenance plan for each client, whilst also developing fit-for-purpose rectification plans to address high risk maintenance - based on the findings of the shutdown. We partner with our clients by assisting them with life-cycle costing and valuable data for a streamlined maintenance budget.