With the year firmly on track and millions of South Africans and other sport-loving nations of the world eagerly awaiting what could arguably be called the event of the decade, the Proudly South African Campaign would once again like to encourage all members and fellow-South Africans to play their part in ensuring that the 2010 Fifa World Cup indeed lives up to expectations of creating a positive and lasting legacy for our country and the continent of Africa.

“Fly the Flag” day will be celebrated on 2 March 2010 – exactly 100 days prior to the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Let our support of and predisposition towards homegrown talent, natural and cultural heritage and locally-made quality products and services serve to inspire visitors to our shores in a manner that will demand that they return again and again…

Help create a welcoming environment for visitors by ensuring that family, friends and staff understand the social and economic importance of this “event of a lifetime”, and adopt an a warm and friendly attitude towards all visitors; by being helpful when required. Above-all, help create the vibrancy and enthusiasm becoming of a host nation by “Flying the Flag” for Bafana Bafana and South Africa. Elsewhere in this newsletter we provide guidelines on how you can go about celebrating Football Friday, using the Diski dancers and learning to do the Diski dance; by making available South African Flags, or South African branded vuvuzelas, to name a few.

Buy Local – for 2010 and beyond and help support the livelihood of local entrepreneurs and local companies, such as Proudly South African Cora’s Fashions, the creator of the 2010 mascot, Zakumi. We would, again, like to encourage vigilance and sensitivity amongst all South Africans regarding the purchasing of products and services that are not clearly defined as homegrown. Let’s help to stamp out the practice of piracy and illegal imports, especially in the music and film and clothing industries by choosing to buy local, and from legitimate businesses.

With finances and financial management high on everyone’s agenda at the beginning of the year, Proudly SA has engaged a member company which will be providing regular inserts on financial management. Practical guidance on how to get out of the debt trap is the first in this interesting series of articles.

The annual Budget Speech, which is scheduled to take place on 17 February, presents yet another opportunity to engage on matters of finance by sending tips to Minister Gordhan via the Treasury website www.treasury.gov.za .

We would also like to invite you to try out our new mobisite – a communication innovation which will assist you to stay abreast of important member information 24/7/365, even when traveling.
Thank you most sincerely to members and Proud South Africans who, in some way or another, have positively touched the lives of the people of Haiti who are enduring untold suffering after the devastating earthquake which struck some time ago.

We wish all our members a very happy and fulfilling 2010. We look forward to working with you in pursuing our vision of a decent quality of life, and the environment for all South Africans.

Buy Local for 2010 and beyond!

Proud Seasons Greetings

Dalene du Preez
Executive Manager: Marketing & Communications