Commerce Students Launch Glossy Mag

In partnership with Nedbank Private Bank, Commerce Students at the University of Cape Town are launching a new magazine this week called Student.com. The magazine is edited by final year student Katekani Baloyi and is intended as a tool for the university to attract talented schoolgoers and showcase the successes of students.

Dean of the Faculty of Commerce Professor Melvin Ayogu said: “This is one more demonstration of Nedbank’s longstanding commitment to the Faculty. We are pleased that Nedbank Private Bank by this gesture has meaningfully expanded the scope of support that we can expect from the private sector both now and in the future.”

Nedbank Private Bank Managing Director Alfred Ramosedi said the bank understood the importance of investing in personal development and that people were the source of the bank’s strength. “Our efforts extend beyond providing banking services but also creating empowering environments through development, support and upliftment in various communities. Nedbank Private Bank has identified professionals as key to our growth as we have noted that this sector has been the most resilient through business cycles,” he said.

The launch of the magazine, Student.com, will be held at UCT in the African Studies Gallery at 13:00 on Thursday May 14.

Nedbank Private Bank offers a personalized banking service designed to match the unique lifestyle and demanding financial needs of today’s young aspirant achievers. To mark this occasion, Nedbank will share key insights about the banking industry and the role that the magazine can play in stimulating a culture of dialogue and engagement.

“We are very pleased to be associated with such an eminent academic institution in an endeavor to empower young aspirant professionals who are entering the job market during extremely tough economic times. However, through extensive research conducted over the years, great companies that have been able to transform themselves under very difficult economic conditions. Whilst the banking industry has suffered severely, Nedbank Private Bank is well positioned to survive and weather the storms – and continue to seek ways to add value to our clients, communities and stakeholders,” said Ramosedi.

He will be joined by the enterprising SA rugby Springbok player, Tonderai Chavanga who will inspire young aspirant professionals about the significance of making the right choice in all spheres. Nedbank will also utilise this opportunity to highlight consumer education and the many opportunities available to young professionals.

Profiles of Speakers at the Launch

Mr Katekani Baloyi
Editor: Student.com, University of Cape Town

As a 22-year-old final year student in the Commerce Faculty’s Education Development Unit at the University of Cape Town Mr Baloyi has initiated a magazine that will serve as a forum and a showcase for students in the faculty. As the founding editor of Student.com he has sourced and put together a collection of student-written articles for the glossy publication.

Coming from the township of Nkowankowa outside Tzaneen in Limpopo he has found it challenging at times being so far away from home, but one could not tell from the way in which he has been so actively involved at the University of Cape Town. His active involvement in roles of leadership at university has not only helped him give back to the institution, but also put him in good stead to begin his working life when he graduates at the end of the year.
He attended high school at Merensky High school on the outskirts of Tzaneen where he was the Deputy Head Boy. He plans to graduate with a B.Com in Economics and Finance at the end of 2009. After working for three to five years he then intends to go into business for himself.
Mr Baloyi has held a variety of positions of office in his time at the University of Cape Town. These roles include:

• Member of Forest Hill House Committee – Culture Representative
• Member of Forest Hill Development Committee
• Member of Commerce Students Council – Corporate Relations Officer
• Member of Clarinus Village House Committee – Treasurer
• Mentor for Academic Development Program
• Member of Clarinus Village Sub-warden selections panel

Mr Baloyi recently collaborated with a few of his colleagues on a project that will revolutionize the current South African education system. This project has already been proposed to and well received by the Education Management Development Centre (EMDC), which assists schools with developing and implementing relevant curricula. His passion for leadership and being an example to those around him have made him an individual who is always seeking ways to further develop his skills in a manner that will allow him to be a catalyst for positive change.

Mr Alfred Mothetsi Ramosedi
Managing Director: Nedbank Private Bank

As Managing Director of Nedbank Private Bank, Mr. Ramosedi’s responsibilities include developing and implementing strategies aimed at effectively servicing the high-net worth clients of Nedbank, while growing the market share and improving the profitability of the Nedbank Private Bank business unit.
In his sixteen year career, most of which has been in the financial services industry, Mr Ramosedi has gained extensive experience in the development and implementation of effective business strategies aimed at growing the profitability of organisations against the challenging backdrop of the diverse cultures and customer segments that characterise the African marketplace.

He has a BComm from Wits University, an MBA from Wits Business School, a Diploma in Advanced Banking from RAU, and has completed the Global Executive Development Programme at the Gordon Institute of Business Science.

Mr Ramosedi has, at various times, held a number of positions of office, and served on the committees and boards of a variety of business associations and organisations. These roles include:

• Editor: Knowledge Management Magazine
• Visiting Lecturer and external examiner: Knowledge Management, Wits Business School.
• President of Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (South and Southern Africa Councils).
• Member of the Accounting Practices Board (APB)
• Member of the International Federation of Accountants Board, New York.
• Member of the International Development Committee of CIMA in London.
• Representative of CIMA Southern Africa on IFAC PAIB Board as well as the CIMA International Council.
• Trustee of the Nedbank Foundation, which handles the Nedbank Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility Investments.
• Director of the Banking Ombudsman Board and Chairman of the Audit and Finance Committee.

An accomplished public speaker and active contributor to numerous community initiatives, Mr Ramosedi is passionate about contributing towards the success of Black Economic Empowerment and provides active support and guidance to a number of young BEE companies aimed at maximising their growth strategies and developing products and services that are appropriate for the African market.

Posted 14/05/2009 by Carolyn McGibbon