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Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still.

Something to think about!

A Positive outlook on life

June Newsletter 2013

Having a positive outlook is a choice. You can choose to think thoughts that elevate your mood, throw a more constructive light on difficult situations, and generally color your day with brighter, more hopeful approaches to the things you do. By choosing to take a positive outlook on life, you can begin to shift out of a negative frame of mind and see life as filled with possibilities and solutions instead of worries and obstacles.

Hi All!

Understand the benefits of being a positive thinker.

Choosing to think more positively will not only help you take control of your life and make your everyday experiences more pleasant, but it will have countless benefits on your mental and physical health as well as your ability to deal with change. Being aware of these benefits can help you be even more motivated to think positively on a regular basis.[ Here are some of the most important benefits of positive thinking:
o o o o o o

An increased life span Lower rates of depression and distress Greater resistance to the common cold Better mental and physical well-being Better coping skills during times of stress A more natural ability to form relationships and cement bonds

2 NETWORKING LUNCH- 09 May 2013 Majuba FET College (CPD Campus) Presented by Chris Mhlophe
Greetings Ladies and Gentlemen!!! Thank you for granting us this opportunity to present to you our initiative called Workplace-Based Experience.

For many young people, obtaining this kind of work experience has been life-transforming. They have developed a better understanding of their chosen career and how it is practiced in the workplace. This has motivated them to work harder and succeed. Many students have forged relationships with employers that led to immediate offers of employment after the completion of their studies. For employers, the benefit is that students are a source for future employees that you can get to know before hiring. By hosting students, you get a chance to influence the training that the College provides and be able to contribute on the curriculum can fit into the direct needs of your industry. We request your organization/company to assist us as the College in our efforts to place our exit level students in order for them to obtain that much needed exposure and practical experience in their field of study. We would like to request your company to host our students who are being trained in the following qualifications:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

We hope to conduct placements during June/July 2013 College vacation (18 June-5 July 2013), weekends/weekdays, depending on your availability and time. It is not compulsory for students to be paid during their placement in your company. The only compulsory cost to you is a notional one of supervising the students during their time in your company.
We have placed our students with some host companies and we can assure you that it was valuable to our learners and also the host employers as they gave us positive feedback and they are willing to work with us on future projects. We would like to extend our invitation to you as we believe that you have ability and resources to accommodate our students as we try to develop skills that are needed by the business community of Newcastle and surrounding areas. We welcome companies wishing to be in contact with us and here are the contact details; email: chris.mhlophe@gmail.com, telephone: 0343292004 or cell: 0791376628. Thank You!!

On a daily basis South African employers are confronted with shortage of adequately qualified and skilled employees. Students at Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges are a good future source of such staff. You can try them out at little or no cost at your company and at the same time help them to develop their skills by offering them a short period of work experience. We, at Majuba FET College (CPD Campus) wish to place students who are registered for National Certificate Vocational (NCV) and other College programmes with employers for periods of Workplace-Based Experience (WBE). Our goal is to place students that are currently doing their last year of NCV studies (NQF Level 4) and Report 191 (Nated N6) for the maximum of fifteen days in the relevant workplace. During these placements, employers are asked to orientate students to their companies and allow them to work alongside employees doing jobs related to the students field of study.

Office Administration Finance Economics and Accounting Business Management Human Resource Management Tourism Hospitality

NOSA
Who are we?
The market leader and proudly ONE of the most recognised brands in the SHEQ risk management industry You can count on NOSA to be:

NOSA has more than 60 years of quality training enjoyed by thousands of students across the globe. We continue to offer outstanding training programmes based on modern occupational risk management principles that equip employees of all levels, with knowledge and skills to: reduce workplace incidents, create healthier workplaces and identify and manage environmental impacts in an integrated manner. ACCREDITATIONS NOSA Training Programmes The NOSA Training Academy is a SETA and NEBOSH accredited training provider and is ISO 9001 registered. Accreditations / registrations include: MERSETA (SA), FASSET (SA), HWSETA (SA), NEBOSH (INT) - ISO 9011 REGISTERED We employ full-time facilitators who are registered with the Health and Welfare SETA as assessors and moderators. Our licensee option for in-house training offers a cost-effective alternative. Training certificates, such as SAMTRAC is highly sought-after in industry and we enjoy international accreditation for various NEBOSH certificates and diploma.

Reliable Trustworthy A provider of the highest quality, value-adding products & services Ethical Versatile in catering to your specific needs
We supply occupational risk management services and solutions across the globe that enhances clients business solutions. Main Capabilities: Professional training Auditing Consulting solutions Certification services

SAMTRAC Training course Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Management Training Course

What makes us different?

Breadth of accreditations Footprint - global Tailor-made services Dedicated R&D : products constantly updated Ahead of market Adaptable Dynamic Fresh

(NQF Level 5) Exclusively offered by NOSA most sought-after qualification

for aspiring SHE Risk Management Professionals only training certificate repeatedly specified as a requirement by recruiters and employers for job vacancies in the SHE industry

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MYTHS REGARDING WILLS AND DECEASED ESTATES
If you die without a valid Will, your assets are automatically forfeited to the State. Everyone has a right to inherit from a parent. An oral promise of an inheritance is a valid promise. These are all myths, and here are some other misunderstood points: Due to freedom of testation you can basically say anything you like in your Will. No. For example, in your Will you cannot ask your executor to carry out your wishes, if to do so would invalidate Acts of Parliament, promulgated regulations or other rules. Nor may you make stipulations contra bonos mores (contrary to public morals), for example by making your son's inheritance conditional upon his divorcing his wife. You may also not divest a parent of guardianship of his or her biological child. A Will is a contract. No. Strictly speaking, a contract is an agreement between two or more persons, whereas a Will is a unilateral declaration of your last wishes. However, the executors fee arrangements in a Will may be regarded as an enforceable contract. It is the duty of an executor to make funeral arrangements. No. However, if he does so, it is in his personal capacity. Only funeral costs (burial or cremation) and the cost of a gravestone (or a niche in a vault, or columbarium) are permissible claims against the estate. Other costs, for example telephone and travelling costs and the cost of funeral refreshments, cannot be claimed unless authorised in your Will. Do signing powers and power of attorney lapse at death? Yes. Only the executor may, once he has been appointed by the Master, withdraw funds and sign documents. Does interest on investments and debt cease at death? No. Interest receivable on your savings account and investments ceases only upon withdrawal and closure of the account by the executor. Interest payable on debt, such as mortgage bonds and hire-purchase agreements, ceases only when the debt has been redeemed. Do contracts and lawsuits lapse at death? The executor must honour all contracts entered into by the deceased prior to death, unless the contract provides for its lapsing upon death. If the deceased was involved in a civil court case, then, provided court pleadings have been finalised (the legal term is closed), the case will usually continue. A criminal case against the deceased will, however, automatically lapse. Does the executor summarily sell all estate assets?
Fax-2-mail +27 86 640 5226 Fax +27 34 312 2293 Mobile +27 84 409 0002 E-mail: info@veros.co.za Webpage www.veros.co.za

No. His primary task is to follow the wishes in the Will. He may sell assets only as stipulated in the Will, or at the request of an heir, or where there is insufficient cash available to settle claims. Does everyone have a right to inherit? No. However, a child has a right to maintenance from both parents and, if the surviving parent cannot provide, then the childs claim lies against the estate of a deceased parent, and enjoys preference over the claims of heirs and legatees. A surviving spouse also has a right to reasonable maintenance. And if you do die without a valid Will, the provisions of the Intestate Succession Act apply, and an executor appointed by the Master will distribute your net estate (assets less liabilities) to those heirs and in the proportions specified in the Act. Article written by Clive Hill, Legal Adviser, Sanlam Trust
VEROS BlueStar Financial Advisory Services 67 Sutherland Street, Naisan Centre, Newcastle, 2940, South Africa PO Box 9351, Newcastle, 2940, South Africa Tel +27 34 312 2293/ 4652/ 8088

Economy
% change

Main and sub indices of Kwazulu-Natal Barometer

Agriculture Index Mining Index Manufacturing Index Electricity Index Construction Index Transport Index Trade Index Government Finance, Real Estate and Business Services Index Kwa-Zulu Natal Growth Index Kwa-Zulu Natal Stress Index Kwa-Zulu Natal Barometer

% Change on a % Change on a % Change on a on 3 years year ago month ago Quarter ago ago -2.2% -3.1% -2.1% -6.1% -8.8% 16.0% 1.7% 25.0% -0.4% -2.6% -3.2% 5.1% -0.8% -0.3% -1.4% -4.3% -4.7% -0.4% -16.7% -21.1% 10.1% -0.7% 5.5% 37.0% 3.6% 0.4% 1.7% 19.4% -0.8% -1.2% -4.0% 23.7% 0.8% 0.9% -0.9% 6.5% 2.3% -0.7% -0.4% 16.0% 1.7% 0.4% 0.1% -0.8% 0.6% -1.1% -0.5% 16.9%

The KwaZulu-Natal manufacturing index makes the biggest single contribution 25.88% - to the KwaZulu-Natal economy and was one of the main drivers of the slower overall growth. The index lost 0.4% year-on-year, the first decline since September 2011. This was in part due to a slowdown in the production of steel, furniture and wood. The only consolation for the KwaZulu-Natal manufacturing sector is that the decline in manufacturing is a countrywide trend, as shown by the low level of the Purc hasing Managers Index. The KwaZulu-Natal mining index was up 16% month-on-month. Mining, although contributing only 1.65% to the KwaZulu-Natal economy, also had big negative effect on the overall growth index and barometer. The mining index was down 8.8% year-on-year, the biggest year-on-year drop of all the sectors in the KwaZulu-Natal economy. This was because of a drop in coal production and also because the strain in the national mining sector is simply continuing. Every time there is negative news it just continues to affect production of mining countrywide, so it will take a while for mining to get back to its normal levels. The electricity usage for manufacturing and mining are energy-intensive sectors and usually a slowdown in these two sectors leads to a slowdown in electricity usage. The KwaZulu-Natal electricity index did decline by 0.8% year-on-year, but this slowdown was substantially less than the average decline of 3.2% over the last year. The electricity index declined by 0.3% month-on-month and 1.4% quarter-on-quarter.

The KwaZulu-Natal agriculture index turned negative again in April after showing signs of recovery with growth in March. The index was down 2.2% year-on-year, 3.1% month-on-month and 2.1% quarter-on-quarter. Despite a drop in maize production, total field crop production was up 14.5% thanks to increases in sunflower seed, soybeans and wheat. However, meat production was down by 0.5% as a skin disease among cattle in northern KwaZulu-Natal continued to affect the meat sector. The drastic increase in farm wages that took effect in March may also still be influencing the operations of some farmers and it will be a while before sugar production is back to its normal levels. The construction sector in KwaZulu-Natal and several other provinces is still in a slump and as yet there is no indication of when it will recover. The KwaZulu-Natal construction index was down 4.7% year-on-year. Although this was much less than the previous two months declines, the index have now been negative for 12 out of the last 14 months. Building in KwaZulu-Natal was up by only 0.6% and lumber was down by 12.3%, which was one of the main factors that affected the overall construction index negatively. The sharp drop in lumber sales the biggest since June 2009 also shows that there is very little happening in terms of informal building in KwaZulu-Natal. The KwaZulu-Natal transport and communications index was the best performer among all the sectors in the provinces economy, and this was mainly because of growth in communications. The overall index was up 10.1% year-on-year and 5.5% quarter-on-quarter. Strong year-on-year growth in local browsers and cell phone minutes helped communications to growth by 15.2%, the third consecutive month of double-digit growth. The trade sector in KwaZulu-Natal was another positive contributor. Although the 3.6% year-on-year increase in the trade index was far from brilliant, the last time the index increased by at least 3% was in October 2012. Month-on-month the trade index was up only 0.4% and quarter-on-quarter it was up 1.7%. Retail sales were up only 1.8% yearon-year and declined12% month-on-month, a bad sign for the overall trade sector. The trade index was pulled up by the 5.9% increase in wholesale sales and the 11.8% increase in vehicle sales, the first double-digit vehicle sales growth since September 2012. The finance, real estate and business services index has been struggling for a while, and this is not only limited to KwaZulu-Natal. In KwaZulu-Natal the index grew by 0.8% year-on-year. The index has now been negative or growing in very low single-digit numbers since July 2011. The fact that the index reading was slightly positive for three out of the last four months shows that there may just be some hope for the sector, despite a 0.9% quarter-on-quarter decline. The government index was negative year-on-year for the first time since last April. The most recent index includes the new numbers from government, but mostly shows spending by the provincial government and not yet spending by the municipalities as some of the municipal audits are still being finalised. There should be some improvement in the government index once the municipal numbers are published and included. Despite this it is not good to see a decline in any government spending as KwaZulu-Natal needs government spending for its economy to pick up. The KwaZulu-Natal stress index, which measures factors like inflation, interest rates and unemployment, grew at the lowest year-on-year rate since October 2012 1.7%. Month-on-month economic stress was up 0.4% and quarter-on-quarter it rose by only 0.1%. While the slowdown in the growth of stress is welcome, it is highly unlikely that stress will decrease soon. The unemployment rate in KwaZulu-Natal increased from a year ago and with the recent rand weakness the prospect of higher inflation is even bigger.

Good day, It gives us great pleasure in introducing Veros BlueStars webpage to you. Go to www.veros.co.za to see what information is available for you. We would appreciate your feedback and comments to us via email info@veros.co.za. To say thank you, we invite you to make use of this opportunity to have a financial audit done, free of charge, or to update your existing analysis. Let us know, and we will contact you for an appointment. We make your financial future predictable experience our expertise

Regards, VEROS FINANCIAL PLANNERS CHARL, HELEN, SAREL AND ANITA Certified Financial Planners Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning (UFS) VEROS BlueStar Financial Advisory Services 67 Sutherland Street, Naisan Centre, Newcastle , 2940, South Africa Tel +27 34 312 2293/ 4652/ 8088 Fax-2-mail +27 86 640 5226 E-mail: info@veros.co.za Web page

Cicilia Pieterse NCCI Manager 034 315 1903 086 630 2663 082 082 6897 manager@ncci.org.za www.ncci.org.za