A special meeting with the top Strategy Evangelist

This morning I had a fruitful meeting with one of the South African "Strategy Evangelist", Dr Glen Mansfield who has a PhD and MBA in Strategy.

Dr Mansfield has been in the strategic planning field for more than 30 years. He is also a founding member of the Strategy Institute of South Africa, www.strategyinstitute.co.za. His institute focuses on strategy research, training and consulting.

On a numerous times he trained government officials as well as corporate senior/executive managers in Strategy courses at Business Schools and Government training centre, PALAMA.

Voting panel member for IEEE African Conference 2011

IEEE is hosting an African Software Conference on the 19-21 September 2011 in Cape Town, South Africa. The ACSEAC (African Conference on Software Engineering and Applied Computing) is attracting over 200 international and African delegates.

I was introduced to this conference by a prospective co-supervisor for studies, Professor Andy Bytheway, www.imbok.org. Owing to my current Studies and my Lecturing engagement, ACSEAC organisers nominated me to partake as a voting panel member for the Best Software Paper.

Visit www.acseac.org for more information.

"Cap your Carbon"! Happy World Environment Day, South Africa!

Happy World Environment Day to all! Today the world is celebrating the WED by encouraging people from all nations and all walks of life to TAKE ACTION against the greatest threat of all, the global Climate Change. The UN theme for 2008 is "Kick the CO2 habit! Towards a low carbon economy!" In that, everyone is encouraged to put a ceiling to their business-as-usual, carbon-intensive lifestyle and pursue a low-carbon lifestyle.

Our organisation is celebrating the day by encouraging the employees to play "Climate Change Quiz" on a Touchscreen Kiosk (that I personally masterminded). The Quiz has ten questions ranging from what the definition of CC to what actions the Provincial Government of the Western Cape is taking, to personal actions that individuals should adopt.

The prize for the winners is a cap (a tight-fitting headdress...see picture below) with the label "CAP YOUR CARBON". The cap was introduced by the Provincial Minister of Environmental Affairs, Ms Tasneen Essop during her Budget Speech in the Legislative House, encouraging the Legislative members to calculate their Carbon Footprints in order to necessary steps in reducing their footprint. The Carbon Foorprint of all the senior managers in my organisation has been calculated.

The Cap...


The employees queueing to participate in the CC Quiz...


I personally want to challenge, YOU (the reader) to calculate your Carbon Footprint, and then examine what small and big changes you may need to make in your everyday lifestyle.

Happy WED!

GISSA's GIS Week 2008 event

During 5-9 May 2008, GISSA (Geo-Information Society of South Africa) - an association that represents the interests of Geospatial experts in South Africa - hosted the GIS Week event at the UWC; targeting the School learners and educators. Since GIS has been incorporated as part of the Geography Syllabus for the Grade 10-12 learners in South Africa, there is need for all the geospatial experts and organisation to assist in training and support schools especially rural schools. So GISSA is doing their bit by hosting them.

This year I led my staff in exhibiting and assisting in the training lab. I believe our stall was the best as our touchscreen kiosk (that I designed) was the centre of attraction. Every time the learners get the highest score on the Climate Change QUIZ, they were given prizes (including a bag, water bottle and a pencil case - all with a message on Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Recycling).

Our exhibit theme was "Greening 2010 Soccer World Cup as part of our Climate Change Action Plan". Some of our work showcased included the GreenStaySA - an initiative targeting the hotels to reduce their footprint through clean production, energy and water efficiency, etc. Our aim is to get as many hotels participating in the Campaign. We also demonstrated the possible applications of GIS on Climate Change scenarios, e.g. Sea level rise in an informal settlement. We also promoted Energy Efficiency and the use of Renewable Energy.

Pics...

Solar Water Heaters Launch at Hessequa, Riversdale

On the 17th April I participated in a Solar Water Heater Project Launch that was held in Riversdale in Hessequa Local Municipality (just about under 100km away from George). The event was graced by the presence of MEC Tasneem Essop, the Provincial Minister of Environment, Planning and Economic Development, and the National Minister of Minerals and Energy, the Honorable Minister Buyelwa Sonjica.

As South Africa is facing power outages as well as load shedding, this initiave aims at contributing to Electricity Savings in the Province. Solar Water Heaters/Geysers have been identified as one of the measures to be installed by households and businesses in order to save electricity. In this project, 240 SWH units will be installed in Riversdale alone, and about 760 in Cape Town.

This project will also address three areas of challenge, namely,
(1) Global Climate Change (SWH uses clean energy to heat water - no emissions released during the operation of the unit),
(2) Job Creation & Poverty Alleviation (about 50 jobs were created in Riversdale alone - a training academy for SWH is to be established during 2008)
(3) Save electricity (this technology save up to 40% of the total electricity consumption for heating water)

More pics...

GDEST 2008 conference: presentation

I made a presentation to the US and African Scientists at the GDEST 2008 conference on Geospatial Sciences for Sustainable Development, which was held on the 17-19 March in Cape Town. The conference is sponsored by the US Department of State.

GDEST 2008 (Global Dialogues on Emerging Science and Technology): GEOSPATIAL SCIENCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA is a conference that was attended by 98 participants from the US and Africa who engaged in geospatial science and technology analysis and applications. The overall objective of the conference is to engender increased collaboration between and among US and Africa scientists in a number of applied areas using geospatial science, information and technology. It had about 35 presentations, panel discussions and workshops over the three-day period of the conference.

As my organisation hosted an exhibition stall at the conference, we (the exhibitors) were requested to make Technology Showcase presentation to the audience that included the Geographer of the United States, Dr Lee Schwartz. I enjoyed every moment of the presentation.

Climate Change Quiz for 109 Schools Project

I am proud to have introduced and acuired a Touchscreen Information Kiosk for my organisation. It will be used for the GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and Climate Change awareness-raising campaigns. After the it was first introduced to the public during the GIS Day 2007 event, it was placed at our organisation entrance for use by staff and visitors. I have heard good report about the use of the kiosk.

The Touchscreen Kiosk content consists of a Climate Change Quiz, a GIS Map, PowerPoint presentation on Climate Change Strategy, video clips on GIS, a brief information about the Department's programmes, and an intro slideshow with the background music.

The Climate Change Quiz on the kiosk has only 10 simple questions prepared for the Grade 12 learners. It is intended to test general knowledge such as what cause Climate change, list few Greenhouse gases, the predictions for the Western Cape region, what actions should be taken by ordinary citizens, what Government is doing about Climate Change, etc.

I believe that my organisation, the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in Cape Town, South Africa is one of the leading regions in the world in terms of being pro-action w.r.t Climate Change strategies and forward planning. The Department has developed the Western Cape Climate Change Response Strategy and Action Plan in June 2007. The Department has identified 109 Schools who will be receive the Climate Change Education Programme until October 2008. It is also contributing to Renewable Energy projects in the region.

Barney in Cape Town, South Africa

On Saturday, my wife and I took our son and his friend to see Barney (the original one from the USA) at the CT-ICC in Cape Town.

See some pics...

Solar Geysers Competition on today's Cape Argus newspaper

Solar Water Geysers competition on the today's Cape Argus newspaper (5th June 2007, which is also the World Environment Day). To enter to win 1 of the 2 SWG, simply SMS the word 'SOLAR' to 34995. Good wishes!

The advert is as follows....

Buhle Damane - the International Model

Halala, Buhlelele! Look at my son at only 2 and half years of age, he appears as an International Model in the London's Freemans Kids Clothing Catalogue. To God be the glory for the things He has done.

1. Winter clothes
2. Dungarees

National GIS conference presentation: Sustainability Atlas

Yesterday, I made a joint presentation with Ms Elizabeth Hicken on the topic "CASE STUDY: The Sustainability Atlas of the Western Cape 2006". The Atlas is an information tool that has been developed using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to make out the local municipalities of Western Cape of South Africa, according to some 5 themes under Sustainable Development which includes Human Settlement, Socio-Economics, Natural Resources and Tourism, Biodiversity and Agriculture, and Energy and Climate.

At the end of this national conference, I was informed by the organisers that our presentation was voted by some delegates as the best presentation of the conference. (This is yet to be confirmed). I was also approached by an editor for PositionIT magazine, who requests for a news article from me.

I had a real good time during this 2-day conference on the 3rd and 4th April 2007. We also had lovely views of the beach from the Monkey Valley in Noordhoek in Cape Town (Southern Peninsula).

A visit to the South African Navy Festival

My family and I spent our time at the Navy Base today in Simon's Town, which is located about 30km south of Cape Town, South Africa. It was amazing to can view the SA Navy vessels ranging from the smallest boat known as the Lima boat, to the second largest ships, the Valour Class Corvettes. Unfortunately their largest ship, the SAS DRAKENSBERG, did not be participate at this year's Navy Festival. During the event she was escorting their first Type 209 submarine.

To my disappointment I did not see any submarine. And that's what I wanted to aboard on and to be submerged into the depth of the sea.

Yes, we saw many navy sailors in their all-white uniforms. When we arrived they had just finished marching on the Entry Parade.

As we approached the Navy Base, we saw families from many places around Cape Town rushing towards the main entrance. One thing I like about Cape Town is that it is a family oriented city. People here have good family values. Most of them take vacation leave during School holidays in order to take they children around the beatiful Western Cape province. If it's not nature and hiking and camping, they usually go out to see the special events such as this one.

From the distance we saw the huge military ships with many people on board. My son and his friend Axel Boltney could not wait to get to the Navy Base...




We aboard an "Environmental Protection" vessel (ship), the Sarah Baartman, that is used by DEAT (the National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism), the Marine and Coastal Management branch. We took a photo (above) inside the DEAT's Sarah Baartman, which is also displayed on the poster. They use the vessel when doing their research and also during monitoring, control and surveillance of human activities in the South African seas. South Africa is collaborating with other nations to patrol our waters to enforce environmental laws and policies that poachers and illegal fishers don't respect.

a military helicopter landed on the ship...


I (holding my son, Buhle) was the captain for the moment...

...and my wife as the Madam Captain

More pics...


another navy ship, the Valour Class Corvettes


Gun runs and dog shows were demonstrated during the day. My wife took a picture after one gun run was done from one of the navy ships...

My wife and kids on the lower deck

Preparations for a conference presentation

Today, I will be submitting my PowerPoint presentation for a National GIS Conference that I will be speaking at on the 4th April 2007. I will be presenting a CASE STUDY on the "Sustainability Atlas of the Western Cape 2006" that we developed last year. I was the project leader for this product that display the set of thematic maps that spatially represent the local municipalities of the Western Cape in terms of the Sustainable Development categories.

See the Sustainability Atlas cover

The conference "GIS for Environmental and Land Use Management", which is organised by TCI, will be hosted in Cape Town on the 3rd and 4th of April 2007. About 200 delegates from around the country will be attending. I will be sharing the stage with some of the top GIS experts in the country.