-The LTE Buzz February Edition
LTE’s Samantha Pillay receives an award from Verulam High School’s top matriculant Alicia Naidoo
Celebrating Excellence On the 18th of January 2012 Verulam High School celebrated the excellent performance of their 2011 matriculants in a colourful event graced by parents, teachers and the business community. Located in the northern suburbs of Durban, Verulam High School has managed to produce outstanding results in the 2011 matric examination despite the many challenges that the school faces such as lack of adequate educational resources. The Principal Mr Ismail invited LTE’s Group Chief Corporate Services Officer Mrs Samantha D. Pillay to present the schools top 5 students ( Ryan Chetty, Alicia Naidoo, Ashraf Sayed Hoosen, Majeed Naeem and Aleshan Subban) with awards in recognition of their outstanding results. Speaking at the event as guest of honour, Mrs Pillay, also a former student of Verulam High School, emphasised that education is a pivotal instrument needed to channel the youth into meaningful careers and to bring about positive social change within communities. She also presented the top 5 students with special awards courtesy of LTE and made a commitment that arrangements were underway to assist the students in furthering their education.
10 February 2012
In This Issue Strategic Breakaway Workshop Mr. Mokoena on the Chair LTE donates 13 houses
LTE Ekhurhuleni starts Operations LTE will be opening a new office in Ekhurhuleni east of Johannesburg, March 2012. LTE Group has seen a need to start dedicated operations in Ekhurhuleni Gauteng to cater for the growing need for professional services in the area.
On The Chair... Joel Mokoena On the Chair in February we have Mr Joel Mokoena as our Guest to share with us his thoughts on LTE…. When did you join LTE, & where you always Technical Director I joined LTE in April 2004 as Marketing Specialist and Transportation Planner. I was reporting to both the Technical Director and the CEO simultaneously. I only became the H.O.D in 2010...Oooh real growth. What are your key responsibilities at LTE? My responsibilities are to give the transportation department strategic direction, transportation planning, accounting for all activities of my department, marketing and I form part of management. What are the most rewarding aspects of your job? First and foremost Exposure. I also get to meet important people and do a lot of networking. I am also gaining plenty of technical and operational experience and of course…..the Salary. What is your view on Social media I am not really a fan of any social media but I don't have any problem with people using it.
Joel Mokoena What is your favourite car? Definitely Mercedes ML 63 Where is your favourite holiday destination? Mpumalanga How do you unwind away from the busy corporate world? If I'm not at work I play golf or watch my son play. By the way my son is a very good golfer. I should also take this opportunity to thank LTE for its support towards his golfing career. If you were allowed one wish, what would it be? Eradication of Poverty.
LTE KZN in development of a 450 bed Hospital The KZN Department of Health is engaged in the development of a high tech 450 bed hospital in Goqakazi Township (Inanda) within the eThekwini Metropolitan Area. The 31 964m² hospital is planned to serve communities north of Durban Central, an area which has experienced rapid urbanisation in the last couple of years. The site has good linkage and access to the broader metropolitan area, which is an important aspect on the overall provision of health care for this district. LTE KZN, as Project Managers, will implement this development in phases over a period of 5 years. In the Preliminary Stage, feasibility studies and concept designs will be done as well as compilation of a preliminary report which will be given to the client for approval. On the Design Development Phase, the team will focus on final specification drawings for submission to local authorities, detail estimate construction costs and submit a final design report. The remaining stages will consist of Procurement, Contract Administration and Implementation.
Artist Impression of the 450 bed John Dube Memorial Hospital
Carsten Laugesen CEO LTE ENERGY
LTE Group CEO Thulani Majola giving a keynote address to delegates
Management Holds Strategy Workshop Senior Management of LTE including Managing Directors and CEOs of all entities and regional branches met on the 20th of January to review the performance of the Group and develop new strategies for the foreseeable future. The high level strategic break away session was held over 2 days in San Lameer along the South Coast of Kwa Zulu Natal. In his opening address LTE Group CEO Mr Thulani Majola edged the delegates to use this opportunity to interact and learn from each other. He spoke briefly on three broad issues to lay the foundation for discussion being;
As LTE it was important that we should do case studies on companies that have collapsed that operated in similar space to LTE so we can learn where they went wrong and how we can avoid falling in the same traps
That LTE Management as a whole should introspect and gather information on what our strengths and weaknesses are as a group.
That this strategic break away session was designed for all delegates to share openly and learn from their colleagues on how operations can be improved.
LTE Group Executive Chairman Mr Asogan Pillay spoke broadly to the delegates on the financial tool developed by Savo Mastilo. This tool will assist Managers to budget efficiently and apply sound financial controls on the management of company resources. Directors and CEOs made presentations highlighting the performance of their entities over the past financial year, what projects they are currently involved in and finally what plans do they have for the forth coming financial year. The conveners Ray Bisnath and Samantha Pillay thanked the delegates at the end for their attendance and constructive contributions
Objectives
LTE Constructs 200 kW Solar PV Plant in Ekhurhuleni This green energy initiative will consist of the development of a 200kW Solar Photo Voltaic plant which is currently the biggest PV solar installation in South Africa. The OR Tambo site where this solar farm will be developed also houses energy friendly facilities such as an Arts & Craft Centre, OR Tambo Narrative Centre, Amphitheatre and the Environmental Education Centre of which all will be powered by this PV Solar plant. The surrounding low cost housing in the area will also benefit from power from the plant. LTE Energy will also be responsible for the system design, procurement and actual construction of the plant.
In Addition LTE Energy will design and construct 3 innovative demonstration low energy, low carbon and low cost houses at the OR Tambo site. These houses will demonstrate the possibility of construction of competitive low carbon emission housing within the Municipal area. The 3 houses will house a low carbon information centre, a media centre and house the caretaker of the PV solar plant. On the third project, LTE Energy will roll out installation of approximately 500 solar water heaters to the Wattville low cost housing area which is adjacent to the OR Tambo site.
Nifty IT Guy Jordache Ubraj
What Is Google Android? Android is a Linux-based mobile phone operating system developed by Google. Android is unique because Google is actively developing the platform but giving it away for free to hardware manufacturers and phone carriers who want to use Android on their devices. A modified version of Android is used in the Google TV, the Barnes & Noble Nook eReader, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and countless other devices. Because Google developed Android, it comes with a lot of Google services installed right out of the box. Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Maps, and Google Web search are all pre-installed, and Google is also the default Web page for the Web browser. However, because Android can be modified, carriers can choose to change this. Verizon Wireless, for instance, has modified some Android phones to use Bing as the default search engine. Android is an exciting platform for consumers and developers. It is the philosophical opposite of the iPhone in many ways. Where the iPhone tries to create the best user experience by restricting hardware and software standards, Android tries to insure it by opening up as much of the operating system as possible.
Staff Insight Sipho Mncube What are your key responsibilities at LTE? My responsibilities at LTE can be broadly be divided into 3 categories, 1. Traffic Surveys Logistics 2. Traffic and Transport Analysis 3. Site Supervision and other administrative duties.
How Long have you been working at LTE? This is my third year at LTE. What Challenges do you face in doing your job? Being in an Engineering environment, some of the work is quite technical. I have however decided to further my studies to grow my skills academically and technically. What are the most rewarding aspects of you Job? Meeting deadlines and being able to deliver to clients expectation is very rewarding. What is your favourite car? BMW 330i convertible, I really love this car. I could also do with a Ford Mustang GT, a true muscle car.
4. Assisting the Project Management team doing site inspection, progress reviewing, liaising with contractors and preparation of weekly reports. What gadget do you use the most? I am a Nokia man. Since back in the day, I m currently enjoying the use of the E90. For its size it can really do a lot. What is your view on Social Media? I have an active account with one of the big networks but I'm not really a big fan. Where is you favourite holiday destination? Funds permitting I would like to visit Pemba in Mozambique, it a very nice place.
LTE Donates 13 Houses to Flood Victims LTE Group of companies have donated houses to 13 families of Duduza Township east of Johannesburg. The 13 families, all flood victims lost everything including their houses during the heavy storms which engulfed parts of the country in 2010. LTE in conjunction with the Gauteng Department of housing agreed to collaborate and build 13 modern houses for the victims of this unfortunate incident. The houses were completed in January 2012 and the families have since moved in. One of the donated houses
Drumming session
Gumboot dancing
Winners of the race
Gumboot dancing
Games and Music at the Team Building Initiative As part of the strategic break away team building initiative held in San Lameer recently the team had to participate in an amazing race competition. The group was divided into 5 groups consisting of 4 members chosen randomly to work together to overcome a set of challenges in a space of 2 hours. The groups were given maps and a set of rules to follow. After two and half hours the winning team was that of Antun Medic, Rajesh Sukhal, Sipho Dyonase. And Phuti Mampa. After the race the entire group was treated to a drumming session where they all had a chance to beat the drums and participate in a gumboot dancing session. After a long day it was refreshing for the delegates to relax and enjoy the music.
Announcements Junior Tyamzashe has been assisting at reception (LTE Head office) since January, filling the void left by Elize who is off sick ,but unfortunately he will be leaving on the 10th of February. We wish him the best with his future endeavours.
EDITOR Karabo Gaongalelwe www.lteconsulting.com
Junior Tyamzashe
