In a welcome foray beyond the usual IT company profile, I was happy to have been asked to write the profile for Sanlam Limited for one of CRF's flagship publications, The Best Companies To Work For In South Africa: 2006 (6th Edition).

Blurb: The companies featured in this edition of the book come from all sectors of business and commerce and include global giants, locally listed companies and specialised niche-market suppliers. In spite of their varying sizes, they all have at least one thing in common: the belief that people are a company's most important assets and that an investment in employees pays very significant dividends both in the short and long terms. In contrast to past practices, many companies are offering employees far more flexibility in terms of working hours, remuneration packages and what is required in terms of achieving a healthy work/life balance.

The majority of companies featured have embraced the changes required in the corporate environment. These include managing the requirements of black economic empowerment, embracing cultural diversity and proactively developing employees.

While South Africa's business environment may be an increasingly daunting one in which to operate, it is the best employers that are managing to both attract and retain top quality employees and so maintain their competitive edge.

[For more information, visit CRF's South African site.]

I wrote three profiles for the 4th edition of this book: Gush (Gushbiz Technology Solutions), University Of Stellenbosch: Department Of Electrical And Electronic Engineering, and Leaders Unlimited.

Blurb: South African companies in the information, communication, technologies and electronics sectors (ICTe) have proven their ability to ride out the storm. Since the market crash of 2000 and 2001, there has been sustained recovery in the ICTe industries in South Africa, and profits in old as well as new ICTe companies are growing almost at pre-crash rates - research shows that share prices climbed by 30% in 2004.

Companies that continue to flourish are those that have kept a cool head and remained intensively focused on what their businesses are about. They have responded to changes and challenges - such as the BEE Charter, exchange-rate volatility, the continuing price-barriers of computers and Internet access to the great majority of South Africans, and the emergence of open source software - with a greater focus on the needs of clients, and on delivering value rather than vision.

[For more information, visit CRF's South African site.]

Sex Appeal: It's A Matter Of Perspective
[Feature: Themed Intro And Game Profiles]

Game Play
[Feature]
If you intend buying a gaming system, you need to understand your choices in order to avoid making an expensive mistake, says Mandy J Watson.

Speeltyd
[Feature: Afrikaans translation for dit magazine of the "Game Play" article]
As jy 'n speletjiestelsel oorweeg, moet jy doodseker maak wat elke soort behels, sê Mandy J Watson.