STATEMENT BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AMD
As the representative of the SA defence industries, AMD engages with government on an array of issues and activities. These, as is the case in many other sectors, include sponsoring various stakeholder events such as the establishment of the SA Army Hospice, contributing towards the Goodwill Project supplying parcels to deployed soldiers, golf events and work sessions. The practice of sponsoring stakeholders within an industry sector is an established practice both internationally and locally and is also practised in industry sectors other than the defence industry sector. It is thus common practice that companies sponsor various stakeholder events within their own operational/market environment. It is therefore not a surprise when defence companies sponsor defence-related stakeholder events when requested to do so by relevant government departments
It is with regret the interpretation that the Business Day (press) article made of the actual facts.
The claim that the sponsorship amounted to “buying access to public servants responsible for adjudicating the purchase of military hardware” is not correct. Members of the SANDF top structures are not responsible for adjudicating the purchase of military equipment. The Armaments Corporation of SA (Armscor) is mandated by law to act as the acquisition agency for SANDF. Armscor’s acquisition processes are recognised as world class and include the necessary checks and balances that ensure the credibility of acquisition-related decision making and have never been found wanting. Neither the Military Command Council nor the Secretary for Defence as a person is involved in the tender process, save for oversight purposes at various predetermined stages. Regretfully to make such a claim is misleading and irresponsible.
Further to the above, it is concerning that the writers / contributors to the article are implying that the most senior members of the SANDF command echelon as well as the Defence Secretariat are so inherently corrupt that mere access to them in a highly publicised interaction would result in them being unduly influenced to interfere with the tender processes. As the knife cuts both ways, it is also indirectly implied that those members of the SA Defence Industry who had agreed to sponsor this event are themselves corrupt / seeking to corrupt these ‘public servants’ and the same applies to the association itself. This should be rejected with the contempt it deserves as it is an insult to the affected parties.
Two other facts are worth mentioning here. Firstly and as a general rule, AMD had decided that no sponsor branding would be allowed as part of this specific request for financial support. Secondly, smaller members of AMD are always encouraged to combine their contributions or to make even minimal contributions to ensure their ability to participate in these events that they otherwise would not have been able to afford.
Lastly, the building and enhancement of relations between the industry and the SANDF/DOD has been a very long and difficult process that had never sought to influence the adjudication of tenders but to facilitate the creation of an operational environment that is conducive to and favourable of the local defence industry. The recent events have clearly compromised whatever progress may have been made to date and no efforts should be spared in initiating discussions with our key stakeholders and partners towards this all important goal.
A LEADING LIGHT IN SOWETO
After normal school hours, in a small street in Molapo, a suburb of Soweto, one will find a house filled with enthusiastic learners who cannot wait for their mathematics classes to begin. The learners who attend these voluntary classes appreciate the fact that they are in the very fortunate position to be able to broaden their understanding of mathematics. They come from all walks of life and from different schools in the area.
Why, one would ask, are these children there and what drives them to attend these after hour classes in the first place. The reason is very simple. Every now and then, one happens to meet an individual who has the gift of sharing knowledge in such an inspiring manner that it becomes contagious.
One such a man is Mr Nicholas Mathole, a resident of Molapo for many years. ‘’All I do is to shape the children’s thinking. I encourage them to know what they want out of life and remind them that to reach those goals, they need a good education.’’
Mr Matole is not a trained teacher but has a great talent in communicating with children. His passion in life is to assist learners in understanding mathematics. His track record speaks for itself. The increase in the pass rate of the learners who previously struggled with this subject is evidence that his methods are producing the desired outcomes. The learners attend his classes to gain an insight and better understanding of the subject and their exam results are testimony to the success of this unique learning methodology.
It all started many years ago when his son experienced great difficulty in understanding maths. Nicholas Mathole realised then and there that there are also many other learners that find mathematics a difficult subject and as a result they all struggled to pass. He promised himself that he would do everything in his power to ensure that his son passes his matric exam with a distinction and that he would use his energy to assist other learners in achieving the same results.
This was a major challenge as he knew that he had to positively influence the mind-set of the learners. He made his own home available to present after hours mathematics classes and from a humble beginning he now has 160 learners who attend these classes. He came to love maths and succeeded in changing the perception that maths is a difficult subject to grasp and understand. To nurture the love for mathematics, Nicholas Mathole ensures that the learners all have a positive attitude towards the subject.
No formal syllabus is followed and he therefore takes his time to ensure that all his students fully comprehend the work that they are busy with before he moves on to new work. Questions are encouraged and the debates that follow become part and parcel of the greater learning experience, he says. The learners all really enjoy coming to his classes as they have all risen above the average for their peer group and they themselves are now in a position to help other students from their own respective schools to prepare for exams.
The name of the programme is ’’Eyes Peeled Mathematics’’ with the simple philosophy of ’’One just have to see, open your eyes, follow the basics, and you don’t have to be intelligent”.
Nicholas Mathole is passionate about the development of South African youth as higher education will bring about career opportunities and skills which will benefit society as a whole.
He offers his personal services free of charge to the community and as such the facilities at his house are in constant need of rejuvenation and upgrade. The learning materials required to continue with this outreach programme is extremely limited and any donations would be more than welcome. Basic resources ranging from stationary to painting the classroom which was once his living and dining room, would be a great morale booster for this very deserving human being.
He does not give 67 minutes of his time to do good to others once a year, he gives all his time all year long. This work is his passion, his life and he does nothing else. Teaching children to overcome their fears of the higher sciences has become his calling and he has reached much success as many of his former students have graduated with top honours. Graduates whom he has previously taught are regular visitors who volunteer to assist in presenting some specialist training modules.
The “Eyes Peeled Mathematics” programme deserves all the support that it can get, be it inventory equipment, career guidance, bursaries, learnership opportunities or relevant sponsorships to assist in achieving the programmes vision of a place of learning where students can gain confidence and become the leaders of tomorrow.
AMD wish to encourage its members to consider the “Eyes Peeled Mathematics” programme in their respective CSI initiatives.
AMD has taken the initiative to supply the funding for Mr Mathole to attend AAD2010 as a role-model for the Youth Development Programme.
Please contact Nicholas Mathole on telephone 076 076 9350 or e-mail mathole.hn@vodamail.co.za/eyespeeled@webmail.co.za , should you wish to become involved in this very deserving cause.
