- Great experience working with you to gain clarity of what needs changing in my business. Stephen Jordan Access to Africa - 25 August 2011, Marketing Module
- The past four weeks have added invaluable skills and methodologies which I have implemented in my business. The facilitator was outstanding in imparting marketing techniques. Thank you Aurik for the Business Incubator opportunity!Kagiso Moima Blackmotion Productions - 1 September 2011, Marketing Module
- The module was fascinating and helped me to see the business from a different point of view. Focusing on how to organise different elements of the business was the best!Karabo Mathang P Management - 15 November 2011, Marketing Module
- The facilitator has a great understanding of who I am and what I want for myself and my business. Thank you.Romon Gardener Rocca Promotions - 27 October 2011, Strategy Module
- You have made me hungry for more - can't wait to do the other modules!Pap and Zol Bheki Yende - 23 November 2011, Marketing Module
- My eyes are wide open!!Sipho Maluleke Ekaya Office Furniture - 16 November 2011, Sales Module
- A very professional and well managed programme. Well done!Pragasen Ramiah Sanitation World - 15 November 2011, Marketing Module
- The experience was beneficial. I will be in a position to put into practise useful tools that I have learned.Charles Thiongo ACF Technologies - 14 October 2011, Marketing Module
- Very valuable process that has cleared up many points for me as a business owner and given me valuable tools to facilitate the processes and changes needed in my business.Stephen Jordan Access to Africa - 13 October 2011, Sales Module
- I am very happy with the services and I have benefited greatly from the sales module. I would say keep on doing what you are doing for you really are making a difference. Thabiso Mango Siphethumnotho Investment Holdings - 18 February 2011, Sales Module
- The content was invaluable to me in both my business and personal life. I learnt not to over-analyse processes and to get them done. The module helped me break down processes in my business.Brendan Naidoo Good to Great Gifts - 3 June 2011, Sales Module
- Having never done any sales, this has been a tremendous challenge but at the same time it has opened up my understanding of the tools necessary in the business process.Ashley Hendricks Bursary Management Systems - 1 July 2011, Sales Module
- I found the module very useful, especially in helping me focus on important issues within the business.Renier Dreyer Crunchyard - 14 December 2010, Sales Module
- The module was very helpful and I have learnt alot in a short space of time. I am now confident that I can start growing my business. Thanks a mil!!!Thabiso Mango Siphethumnotho Investment Holdings - 14 January 2011, Marketing Module
- The module assisted us in clarifying our structure thereby reducing potential conflicts and confusion.Norman Hlakudi Titan Trade Technologies - 15 June 2011, Human Resources Module
- My facilitator was friendly and professional through all my sessions. Thanks for an awesome module, it will really change the way I run my business!Babalwa Rasane Urban Glamour - 14 July 2011, Sales Module
- The module was excellent and the facilitator was great at addressing the issues of my business, always adapting the module to demonstrate the benefits of the marketing concepts to my business and my strengths.Brendan Naidoo Good to Great Gifts - 8 April 2011, Marketing Module
- Aurik's advice and coaching methods were extremely beneficial to me and my management, it was an eye opener in a lot of areas of our business processes. Patrick Makhubela Neledzi Services (Pty) Ltd - 6 June 2011
- I think that you chose the right facilitator for the marketing module. She is so passionate about what she does. It keeps you interested and instils confidence.Neo Moleko Mandatory Placements - 24 March 2011, Marketing Module
- It was very encouraging for me to get a professional independent opinion regarding the potential value of Clicks2Dreams. Your re-orientation of the business to market to NGOs at launch is sheer genius.AJ Munian Clicks2Dreams - 3 June 2011
- Since I started attending training and applying the skills acquired at Aurik we have managed to triple our turnover in a month's time (a miracle).Sandile Zwane Flybrother SA - 3 March 2011
- I cannot think of anything else that could be improved on, the level of service that we received was amazing. Moloabi Boipelo Pele Green Energy
- 10/10 for the content and the facilitator! Cannot give any suggestions currently, have learnt alot. Thank you for giving me the tools to sort the sales out. Heather Smithard Webmedia - 29 July 2011, Sales Module
- 10/10 on the module content and the facilitator - It was great as is!Ashley Hendricks Bursary Management Systems - 1 April 2011, Marketing Module
- The program was excellent and execution immaculate, we are blessed to have gone through the module.Gqi Raoleka Pele Green Energy - 23 June 2011, Marketing Module
- Aurik added enormous value in our business processes, risk indicators and referrals to other professionals who helped us with the functionality of our website.Patrick Makhubela Neledzi Services (Pty) Ltd - 6 June 2011
- We do not know how we could've articulated our offering without this process. I cannot put into words the amount of gratitude we have towards Aurik. Thapelo Motlegeloa Pele Green Energy - 23 June 2011, Marketing Module
- If they don't fail outright, most businesses fail to fully achieve their potential. Michael Gerber Business - Achievement - Failure
- The industry is very new and I think more clients will benefit from Aurik’s better understanding. I will certainly recommend to other businesses. Obakeng Moloabi Pele Green Energy - 12 August 2011, Sales Module
- In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensible.Dwight. D. Eisenhower U.S. President
- The facilitators were driven, informative, enthusiastic, professional and inspiring.Moloabi Obakeng Pele Green Energy
- At the end of the project, they packaged an intensive report with graphs indicating all our shortcomings, and professional recommendations to improve our business processes for our consideration. We have already implemented most of the recommendations and business is looking better and stable, our business confidence has improved.Patrick Makhubela Neledzi Services (Pty) Ltd - 6 June 2011
- Entreprenuership is neither a science nor an art. It is a practice. Peter Drucker The Man Who Invented Management
- The facilitator really understood my issues? 10/10. I learned useful skills through the module? 10/10Heather Smithard Websister - 12 April 2011, Marketing Module
- It was of great personal relief to me when you recognised the potential of our business and agreed to air our project and I began to feel less lonely.Ian Wright Ozone Services Industries - 7 April 2011
- I am so grateful to you and your company for your passion, drive and insight you've imparted to me relating to business. I believe that if struggling SME's were to get the same opportunity as I did they would surely turn the tide. Thank you so much!Sandile Zwane Flybrother SA - 3 March 2011
- The entrepreneur builds an enterprise; the technician builds a job.Michael Gerber Entrepreneurs - Jobs
- I wouldn’t change anything, only compliment the high quality of mentoring I am receiving with the organisation. Also would like to thank the facilitator for an eye opening session. Thabang Kubheka Lunakho Productions - 4 August 2011, Marketing Module
- If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do, and how to do it. Abraham Lincoln USA President
- The bottom line is that I very much appreciate your interest in OSI, am enjoying working with Aurik and look forward to holding hands with Aurik at least for the next couple of years as we move to bigger and greater things.Ian Wright Ozone Services Industries - 7 April 2011
- Having someone to bounce ideas off and discuss our business with was invaluable. It was good to walk away knowing that I am on the right path. I left with renewed vigour and look forward to 2011.Donald Truluck Pneu Technologies - 8 February 2011
- Your breakdown of what Mooi needed to move to the next level had switched a light bulb on in my mind. A huge thank you for your insights.Karen Koen Mooi Hair & Beauty Salon - 12 November 2010
- The module was the best investment of my time this year, assisted us in turning the business around. Langa Sangoni Apple Green - 9 November 2011, Financial Module
- I have been made to feel comfortable and I have been given a system and tools that I know will be helpful to my business. Thanks to the facilitator and the Aurik Team.Thabang Kubheka Lunakho Production and Staging - 3 November 2011, Sales Module
Alex Renewal Takes Off
UNEMPLOYMENT at 60%, a 40% Aids infection rate, services payment rate at 13%, only 60% of all waste entering the formal waste system, 17 000 illegal electrical connections… These are just some of the problems being tackled in the monumental Alexandra Renewal Project.
The project was announced by President Thabo Mbeki almost two years ago, and given a budget of R1.3-billion and a time frame of seven years. The aim is to make this sprawling ghetto township, some 12km north-east of the city centre, into a place where people can live decent lives in pleasing surroundings.
Alexandra dates back to 1912 – it celebrates its 90th anniversary this week with an active programme for its residents. It is historically one of the few places in the city where blacks were allowed to own property because it was established before the 1913 Land Act.
With successive migrations into the city, the township burst its planned capacity long ago, with backyard and Jukskei riverbank shacks resulting in gross overcrowding and horrendous problems. The service systems and infrastructure were originally designed for 70 000 people; there are now 350 000 people living in an area of one square mile.
The renewal approach is to attack all problems at the same time, says Carien Engelbrecht, programme manager of the project. For the first time in the township’s history, a “forward-looking development framework” with a “potent monitoring system” is being put in place.
“To implement this, an audit of all lawful zones and actual use of land has been conducted,” says Engelbrecht. Historic and cultural features have been identified, and an urban design framework, which includes businesses in the townships, has been compiled.
The action has begun:
- Some 7 000 people have been moved from the dangerous river banks, and those banks have been reinforced and grassed. Flood plains have been restored and intrusions like weirs have been decommissioned.
- Around 2 400 houses have been built, with a further 11 500 houses to be built in the next three years, aiming overall to provide 50 000 houses.
- A skills and entrepreneurial development programme is about to be launched. Short-term labour-intensive public works jobs have been created in work presently being done in the township.
- A greening strategy is in place, starting with the development of parks and the appointment of environmental health inspectors. Some 3000 trees have been planted. Two cemeteries are being redeveloped. To bring the green message closer to home, greening workshops and gardening competitions have been held.
- Large new reservoirs have been commissioned. A water-borne sanitation system is being put in place, together with collector sewers. CCTV cameras are being used to assess the condition of the sewer infrastructure. In January high pressure water will be pumped into the pipes to clean them.Nine water monitoring points are now in operation. The e.coli count in the Jukskei river has dropped from 1.6 million parts per 100ml to 600 000 parts, over the past 18 months. Four air monitoring stations have been installed to monitor noxious gases from nearby industries.
- Some 58 000 bins have been distributed throughout the township. Street butcheries, noxious industries and medical waste from local hospitals are to be forced to comply with by-laws to reduce waste from these industries polluting the township, the sewer system and the Jukskei.
- Building control and land-use control inspectors have been appointed to bring some order into the uncontrolled settlement of squatters and monitor dumping and new building development.
- Roads are being upgraded and tarred and kerbs are being paved, with stormwater drains fitted.
- Around 122 000 person-days of employment have been created in the last 18 months, 30% of which has gone to women.
- Alexandra’s first police station is to open in January. The township’s first welfare office has just opened.
- An above and below ground audit has been undertaken, in an effort to trace the sewer and waste water infrastructure. There are no grid maps for the township so the painstaking process of re-mapping the infrastructure has had to start from scratch. Many shacks have been haphazardly placed over manholes and occupy essential servitude entrances.
Engelbrecht stresses that the approach is one of give and take. Not every shack and its occupants situated in servitude lanes will be removed – the lane will be made accessible by essential removals only.
The project aims to reduce unemployment by 20% and up the services payment level to 90%.
“Nothing would have been possible without partnerships,” she emphasises. The project involves provincial, local and national governments, the residents of Alexandra, 32 agencies like Pikitup, City Power and Gauteng Tourism, non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations to help implement the project, and, lastly, business.
“The business sector has been the slowest to come on board,” says Engelbrecht. They want to see concrete action before they are willing to commit themselves to the project.
Concrete action has certainly begun.
by PauseBreak