Risk Management an Integral Part of RAL Strategy

AN INTEGRAL PART OF RAL STRATEGY

Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL) hosted its first enterprise-wide risk management ‘Risk Champions’ training workshop at the Agency’s offices in Polokwane, Limpopo recently.

The theme of the workshop, held under the auspices of RAL’s Governance, Risk and Compliance unit, was “Unlocking the value of the enterprise-wide risk management through benchmarking and collaborations.” And true to form, risk management professionals from other organisations, namely, the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and Transnet Freight Rail honoured the invitation to share their knowledge and expertise with their provincial peers.

According to Komane Maphutha, RAL’s Senior Manager for

Governance, Risk and Compliance, the purpose of the workshop was to empower the appointed Risk Champions with relevant technical knowledge, expertise and skills to be able to perform enterprise-wide risk management function and duties.

Risk Champions are members of staff appointed to represent various business units within RAL, and to act as ambassadors for the successful implementation of the enterprisewide risk management strategy.

“They ought to have passion and drive to support the set organisational objectives and aspirations,” says Mr Maphutha.

“Risk Champions act as change agents in the enterprise risk management value chain and they do not assume the role of risk owners but provide guidance in mitigating, preventing or avoiding potential risk exposures which become threats in achieving set objectives.”

RAL’s Risk Champions are appointed by the CEO on a two-year term. They should possess relevant skill and knowledge in their area of responsibility, and must have leadership qualities required to champion aspects of the enterprise risk management.

The currently serving Risk Champions are Mathabo Masegela (Engineering), Pilot Mabilu (CEO’s office), Itumeleng Kekana (Finance), Makhitha Chesane (Corporate Services), Katlego Legodi (ICT) and Phedisho Nchabeleng (Legal Services and Company Secretariat).

Mr Maphutha said the workshop is aimed to ensure the cultivation and nurturing of an enabling environment towards the growth of enterprise-wide risk management culture at all tiers of RAL, and for the Agency to be a Risk Intelligent Enterprise. This, he says, together with enterprise risk management principles, will cultivate the culture of learning and growth across the Agency.

“In short, the workshop sought to position Roads Agency Limpopo’s enterprise-wide risk management system on the right path in supporting the accomplishments of the organisation’s five-year strategic objectives and targets,” said Mr Maphutha.

The success of the enterprise risk management in the 21st century, particularly in the public sector, depends to a great deal on the collaboration and synergies between all the organs of state to ensure they meet their mandates independently and that of government collectively.

Mdu Nxumalo from the SIU spoke on how Risk Champions are expected to play a key role in instilling the culture of effective risk management in their respective functions and areas.

“Risk Champions should advocate for the buy-in of the top management in this enterprise risk management process to effectively spearhead its implementation,” said Mr Nxumalo.

The Governance, Risk and Compliance unit is a fairly new unit at the Agency. It was set-up in March 2017 as part of the Agency’s 2015-2020 turnaround strategy for the then beleaguered pre-2015 RAL. The unit is a four-member team headed by Mr Maphutha.

The unit’s mandate is to provide internal governance, risk and compliance advisory services in the successful implementation of the multimillion-rand projects at the Agency, i.e. that the Agency achieves its goals and objectives of delivering projects on time and within budget.

The Risk Champions training workshop was done in the spirit of the cost saving drive as issued by the (Limpopo Department of) Provincial Treasury, which the Agency is committed to upholding to ensure compliance and efficiency.

The plan is to have the Risk Champions training workshop annually, and to invite other organisations from both the private and public sectors. Mr Maphutha hopes the workshop will strengthen RAL and position the Agency’s enterprise risk management system amongst those of the top organisations in this regard, nationally and against international benchmarks.

“RISK CHAMPIONS ACT AS CHANGE AGENTS IN THE ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT VALUE CHAIN”

Attending the Risk Champions training workshop were, from left to right, Pilot Mabilu (RAL’s Assistant Manager Internal Audit), Itumeleng Kekana (RAL’s Manager Proactive Assurance), Vinoliah Maepa (RAL’s Assistant Company Secretary), Nhlanhla Dikiza (TUT’s Quality Assurance Advisor), Mathabo Masegela (RAL’s Senior Manager Planning), Mmabotse Mooke-Moyo (TUT’s Risk Coordinator), Mdu Nxumalo (SIU’s Risk Manager), Mamoloko Chuene (Transnet Freight Rail’s Senior Risk Consultant) and Komane Maphutha (RAL’s Senior Manager Governance, Risk and Compliance). Also in attendance were RAL’s Cornelius Ruiters (Executive Manager Engineering) and Katlego Legodi (Manager Information Technology).

Mdu Nxumalo, Risk Manager at the SIU in Pretoria interacting with one of the Risk Champions training workshop presenters, Mmabotse Mooke-Moyo (standing), Risk Coordinator at TUT.