Boost for SA’s banking sector

THE names of the 42 South African banking officials who will go overseas on a four-week career advancement exercise have finally been announced.

The delegates will visit the US, UK, Ghana, Uganda and Dubai in the Bankseta International Executive Development Programme.

First launched in 2006, the programme will be split into two, with one group of 18 delegates visiting the US and Ghana in June, while the other group of 24 will go to the UK, Dubai and Uganda in July.

More than half of the candidates are women.

The delegates, some of whom come from investment and retail banking, will be exposed to lectures in business schools, visit banks to see how they offer their services and also do their own studies while on the trip.

On their return the delegates will present individual reports and are expected to have gained exposure in thinking strategically, working under pressure, team work, ethical, showing commitment to sustainability issues, more astute with technology developments.

The announcement was officially made by Bankseta chief executive Max Makhubalo at Emoyeni Conference Centre in Johannesburg on Friday.

Makhubalo said good partnerships had been formed between the Seta and Wits Business School, Gordon Institute of Business, Stern School of Business in New York, Cass Business School in London and Makerere Business School in Uganda.

“The quality of the people that we produce, especially in our banks, are actually competent,” he said.

“We are aware that banks do more training than this one. We say this sector should continue to lead.”

Makhubalo said they were committed to transformation of the banking sector.

“This is what this programme seeks to achieve in terms of gender and race. It is not normal that we draw our management executives from only white males,” Makhubalo said.

“Keep your opinions to yourself (referring to the politics of the moment). Discuss only soccer, it is safe,” he advised.

“We want our sector to take a leading role in creating employment. We believe the banking sector has a big role in creating these opportunities.”

One of the delegates, Tumelo Ramokhondo, 30, head of projects and quality management at FNB in Johannesburg, said it was a great opportunity for him to go on the trip.

“I’m hoping to get international exposure on how they do things in different markets,” he said.

“I am also hoping to see how the banks (in other countries) use IT systems to deliver better services and products to their clients.”

Trevor Rammitlwa, manager of development programmes at Bankseta, said: “Our intention is to have these guys come back and be ready for senior positions.”