The theme of the 20th EAPA-SA and Pan African Eduweek, held in Nelson Mandela Bay in September, was Creating the Future – Innovative Solutions to Uniquely South African EA Problems”
Featuring one of our most exciting and valuable programmes to date, we were honoured to be welcomed in an opening speech from Nelson Mandela Bay’s Mayor’s office, Cllr Gidane and to be educated by an array of experienced and knowledgeable local and international speakers, including:
- Mr Louis Servizio (Brazil) – Keynote Speaker
- Mr Dirk Antonissen (Belgium)
- Muyabala Muna (Swaziland)
- Dr Quinella Minix (USA)
- Adelowo Adesina (Nigeria)
- Dr Celisa Flores (USA)
- Mr Peter Whelan (Canada)
In feedback on the training that stood out for him, the current Egoli Chapter chairperson, André Cloete, says, “The conference session I enjoyed the most was Workshop 6, Culturally sensitive and holistic EAP approaches, by Dr Barbara Louw. This topic appealed to me as EAP is one of the only tools within the workplace where all employees have equal access to support, information, advice, counselling and care. The EAP normalises the ‘humanness’ of people and brings to the foreground the real issues that employees are faced with. Therefore, should the principle of culture and holistic approaches be fully embraced, it will assist in distinguishing the uniquely African EAP. I strongly believe that our EAPs, within most of the workplace settings, are addressing the vast diversity of our society otherwise there would not have been such a strong demand on our profession. We listen most often to where it matters the most!”
Past President Tshif Mamaila says, “My favourite was the opium presentation by Dr Minix – even the engagement with the audience after her presentation was great. With the legalisation of cannabis this raises workplace nightmares for organisations without tight policies on substance abuse. The presentation gave good guidelines and outlines for intervention.
And for board member, Radhi Vandayar it was Session 20, Energise Employee Engagement with Relevance, by Ronald Abvajee. Radhi says, “Ronald was engaging and the topic was relevant and practical. Everyone walked away with tools to implement when they go back to the workplace.”
Bernedette Roberson, board member in charge of Eduweek Portfolio reports that the 2018 event was a resounding success, with a record number of attendees – up by almost 22 percent on previous years. She attests to the fact that the EAPA-SA Eduweek is convergent with current EAP trends and offers excellent return on investment for organisations who send delegates and who, more than just receiving training towards CDP points, are personally developed as they mix and network with their industry peers.
In addition to the prestigious annual Presidential Awards, this year EAPA-SA launched delegate recognition awards to recognise long-standing, loyal supporters of the annual Eduweek who have attended for five, ten, fifteen and twenty years, consecutively.
Recipients of this year’s Presidential Awards; members held in high esteem within the EAP industry for their professional calibre and unstinting contribution, were acknowledged at the 20th Anniversary EAPA-SA Presidential Awards Dinner. The 2018 recipients are:
EAPA-SA Board Member of the year | Dr Marion Borcherds |
EAPA-SA Chapter of the Year | Ikhala |
EAPA-SA President | Tinyiko Godfrey Chabalala |
Individual EAP Practitioner of the Year | Zola Honey Mxalisa |
Individual EAP Professional of the Year | Gladys Chuene |
EAPA-SA Special Recognition Award | Prof Lourie Terblanche (PhD) |
EAP for Africa Special Project Award | Tshifhiwa Mamaila |
The outgoing board members were recognised for their valuable contribution to EAPA-SA over their term of office. The outgoing board members are:
Portfolio | First Names | Surname |
Past President | Tshifhiwa | Mamaila |
President | Tinyiko Godfrey | Chabalala |
President Elect | Thiloshni | Govender |
Finance | Andiswa | Lefakane |
Membership & Chapter Development | Dr Pravesh | Bhoodram |
Education | Joe Thabo | Makasane |
Stakeholder & Sponsorship Relations | Dr Marion | Borcherds |
Marketing | Radhi | Vandayar |
Conference & Events Management | Bernedette | Roberson |
Governance | Isaac | Koto |
The chapter chairpersons all who during this term, and continue to serve, were recognised for their invaluable input and work in each region. These chairpersons are:
Western Cape | Patrick | Egan |
Free State | John Ramogakabe | Lenong |
Nelson Mandela Bay | Charmaine | Oosthuizen |
Ikhala | Bridgette | Cain-Noveve |
Egoli | Pieter Andrias | Cloete |
Limpopo | Gladys | Chuene |
KZN | Joel Mzwandile | Gumede |
EAPA-SA has introduced Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Certificates, and will assign members to formal EAPA-SA designation categories, in order to endorse those individuals who operate in the EAP field and qualify. Two individuals from each EAPA-SA chapter have been trained as RPL Advisors, to give the necessary guidance to RPL candidates. The following members were awarded Recognition of Prior Learning Certificates at the 20th Presidential Awards Dinner:
Nevania Naidoo | Egoli |
Nthabiseng Francinah Motaung | Free State |
Gaongalelwe Bendish Makhetha | Free State |
Matlale Johannah Masemola-Thelejane | Ikhala |
Ingrid Josephine Lentswane | Jacaranda |
Alex Molefe Motloba | Jacaranda |
Smangele Nomkhosi Simelane | KZN |
Makhosazana Nqobile Khuzwayo | KZN |
Gladys Chuene | Limpopo |
Johannah Mokgaetji Mamanyuha | Limpopo |
Pogiso Matthews Mosadi | Platinum |
Dibuseng Suzan Khunwane | Platinum |
Colette Ann Rodrigues | Western Cape |
Radhi Vandayar | EAPA-SA Marketing |
Joe Thabo Makasane | EAPA-SA Education |
Bernedette Ann Roberson | NMB |
Thiloshni Govender | Ikhala |
To mark the Association’s 20th anniversary event, EAPA-SA launched a book at Eduweek, titled Creating Legacy in EAP Business – The South African Approach Towards Employee Assistance. This book is the first of its kind in South Africa, in which Prof Lourie Terblanche of the University of Pretoria (and past President of the Association) has documented EAPA-SA’s journey, while acknowledging all key role-players.