NEWSLETTER. Message from the Chairman. Birthdays. This edition: January 2015 February 2015 March Summer Edition December 2014.

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1 NEWSLETTER Message from the Chairman Dear Colleagues Economics and Politics are closely interlinked, thus making it impossible to separate these two. The task of any government is to create a climate conducive to business growth by stimulating avenues of employment for an ever enlarging workforce. In this our present Government has failed us. Unemployment is steadily on the increase. Most of our young school leavers will find it very difficult to find suitable work. With ever increasing direct and indirect taxes levied on the business community, growth opportunities are becoming less attractive. We have recently voted in again the incumbent political party with a huge majority, thereby giving them carte blanche authority to continue to govern as they please. Possibly we deserve such a government, as apathy reigns supreme. Too many of our citizens did not even register to vote in these elections. Of those, many again did not go near a polling station. Yes, your vote does make a difference!! Perhaps there will be a next time? Let us hope that pragmatism will survive, and that under a new President growth and employment will receive priority treatment. We do not necessarily need a change of government, but rather a stronger opposition, which can censure wasteful, unproductive legislation and curb corruption. With Kind Regards Manfred Böttger Chairman Summer Edition December 2014 This edition: Birthdays page 1 New appointments, Congratulations page 2 Long Service Awards, Farewell page 2 News from: Swaco Industries page 3 The North page 4 Letter from America page 5 Message from HR page 5 Year End Function 2014 Album page 6 Birthdays January 2015 February 2015 March st Paulina Nabot 1 st Victor Gertze 1 st Franklin Maletzki 16 th Armozeel Moller 2 nd Omo Sheehama 4 th Janeke Robberts 18 th Sarita Kotze 16 th Josef Nampala 5 th Nickéta Struwig 25 th Sigrid Antindi 18 th Thomas Martin 9 th Willem J v Rensburg 25 th Chantal Robberts 27 th Sarel Frey 11 th Marco van Wyk 28 th Lee Moller 12 th Walter Böttger 25 th Gervasiu Mateus 1

2 New appointments The Swaco Group of Companies was joined by new staff members the past few months. We would like to welcome: Sigrid Beata Antindi, who was appointed as Sales Assistant at Spice & Scale World (Pty) Ltd - Ondangwa. She is 30 years old and has a 7 year old daughter. Paulus Haimbodi, who was appointed as Decanting Officer at Spice & Scale World (Pty) Ltd - Windhoek. Paulus is 37 years old and has 2 daughters and 4 sons. Armozeel Moller, who was appointed as Receptionist at the Swaco Group of Companies Head Office. Armozeel is 25 years old. Golda Ngarizemo, who was appointed as General Assistant at Swaco Industries Namibia (Pty) Ltd t/a Maizey. Golda has worked for the Group before on a temporary basis. Totsiens Die volgende werknemers verlaat die Swaco Groep: Long Service Awards We would like to congratulate the following employee who received a long service award in Oct - Dec 2014: Abraham Garoëb Swaco Industries Betsie de Waal Chris-Mari Giani Riaan Horn Cernol Chemicals Print Solutions Swachem Windhoek sowel as Shariefa Fisch Maizey, en Petrus Petrus en Lovemore Siyanga, albei van Cernol Chemicals Windhoek. Ons beste wense vergesel hulle op die pad vorentoe. 25 years We thank you for your valuable contribution and wish you many more happy years with the Swaco Group. Congratulations to our amateur... and professional bowlers On Friday the 3 rd October 2014, a team of 4 players from the Swaco Group participated in the Namibia Bowling Association s Corporate Fundraising event. Swaco s team consisted of Riaan Horn, Surita Smit, Chantal Robberts and Will Esterhuizen. On the afternoon, 22 teams from different corporate companies competed at the event, and Swaco s team once again did exceptionally well by coming in 2 nd place. Well done! One Swaco, one nation! From the 7 th September 2014, our two star bowlers of the Swaco Group, Douw Calitz and Will Esterhuizen, participated at the African States Bowls Tournament in Jwaneng, Botswana. Douw and Will played doubles and fours, and won medals in both: Gold in the Doubles (African States Champions!!!) and Bronze in the Fours. Congratulations on this outstanding result! 2

3 Nuus van Swaco Industries News from Swaco Industries Swaco Industries got the look! Swaco Industries moves with the times - introducing our improved delivery vehicle. We ve got the look! SMILE A WHILE Last night, my husband and I were sitting in the living room and I said to him, I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug. So my husband got up, unplugged the computer and threw out my wine. To all the staff in Swaco Industries and the rest of the Swaco Group, we wish you an extremely pleasant and safe festive season and may 2015 be the best year ever. Karen Lind Print Solutions says thank you On the 14 th October 2014, Print Solutions entertained their main supplier from Cape Town on a 2 day trip from Windhoek to the Coast as a gesture of appreciation for the fantastic business relationship that exists between the two companies. Douw Calitz and Chris-Mari Giani showed the South Africans how we have fun here in Namibia! 3

4 Nuus van Die Noorde Cernol gives to the community In the spirit of giving, Cernol recently assisted a group of elderly people in one of our employee s communities by donating some cleaning chemicals to them. They really appreciated it and thanked Cernol and Jutika Olyn, our Cernol employee,for this gesture. News from The North Spice & Scale in the newspaper Spice & Scale World participated in the annual Swakopmund Expo, i.e. Swaitex, and their stall was well presented by our two Sales Reps, Franco Savage and Marco van Wyk. This photo was taken at the Expo and published in the Namib Times great exposure and marketing for our company! Well done guys! Ondangwa Year End Function The Ondangwa depot s Year End Function was held on the 4 th December 2014 at the Protea Cresta Hotel in Ondangwa. Two long service awards were handed over to Frans Namashana and Simon Shuumbwa consecutively for their 5 years long service, and Wilhelm Shigwedha received the Ondangwa depot s Employee of the Year award. Ondangwa depots are ship shape! During Mr Böttger and Mr Black s recent visit to the Ondangwa depots, they were very impressed with the neat and professional way that both these depots were kept by our staff. We would like to congratulate you on the way you conduct yourselves as the image of the Swaco Group of Companies in the North. Keep up the good work! 4

5 Letter from America I have only been in North America for the past week and have already had a few interesting experiences and insights into the way Americans face the daily challenges of life. The most striking feature is the almost universal sense of optimism, that things can be better and that it is up to me, as an individual, to make it better. We have just had our elections in Namibia and this has fuelled peoples' expectations that the Government is going to do something different without any further involvement from us. The question I ask myself is why Americans are so self-sufficient while we expect someone else to solve our problems. I cannot pretend to have an answer, but can share a few thoughts. Firstly, Americans are invariably friendly, they welcome strangers as an opportunity to make new friends and are warm in sharing themselves and helping you to feel comfortable. This friendliness translates into a passion for service - whatever you need is "no trouble" and is done with a smile. The spirit of self-reliance, friendliness and service is most vividly seen in the sense of community. A small example - it snowed just after we arrived - the local football team was hosting a game and the field was covered in snow. No problem - the players and spectators joined in and cleared the field and the game went on. This was not seen as a unique event - it is just the way things are done. No concept of "why don't they..." but rather "let's do it and have some fun!" People take responsibility for all aspects of their lives, especially the well being of their families and their children's education. Families are deeply and passionately involved in their children's schooling, from assisting teachers where they can, participating in educational events and encouraging their children to do their best. The responsibilities of parenting are taken very seriously. Being community oriented is also taken as a serious responsibility to not disappoint other members of the community. If you agree to participate, you are expected (especially by yourself) to fulfil your commitment to your fullest of your ability. I have seen really exquisite work done by community groups for the sheer pleasure of sharing a good experience - the New Jersey Governor's mansion has been decorated for Christmas by various gardening clubs and theatre groups, all working together for no reward other than participating and pride in the community. My first impression is that most Americans are truly democratic citizens - they are continually involved in trying to make a better future for themselves, their families and their communities. Voting once every five years is a very small part of being democratic, irrespective of the result. Being a democratic citizen is a much bigger and more serious commitment by each individual, irrespective of how he or she voted. My best wishes to you and your families for a peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year. Mike Hill Boodskap van die HR Kantoor Nog n jaar is op sy einde, en mens wonder waarheen gaan die tyd! Dis ongelooflik hoe baie dinge kan verander in n mens se lewe in n jaar se tyd: party se lewens word verryk met die verwagting van n baba, party se lewens word aangevul deur n nuwe lewensmaat, party verloor n vriend of familielid deur die dood, party kry n ander motor, of trek na n ander huis, of begin by n ander werk of met n nuwe stokperdjie, of maak nuwe vriende. Elke jaar hou die verwagting in van verandering, en wanneer n jaar tot n einde kom, kan ons terugkyk met dankbaarheid na al die dinge wat in ons lewe verander het, en uitsien na n Nuwe Jaar wat ook vol geleenthede, uitdagings en vooruitsigte gaan wees. Dankie vir elkeen se bydrae hierdie jaar om van die Swaco Groep n sukses te maak. Mag ons elkeen elke dag in die komende jaar voortgaan om ons beste in ons werk te lewer sodat 2015 net so suksesvol sal wees! Mag die Kerstyd vir elkeen van julle geseënd wees, en mag die Nuwe Jaar net mooi beloftes inhou! Geniet die rustyd! Surita Smit Surita Smit 5