Proud to Present

Drum Beat is always proud of each and every learner that passes through our doors, even if we have to temporarily make their doors ours. Now with any further ado we are proud to present...

Gerald Bakamela who is nearing the end of the Professional Cookery Learnership at Africa Sky Hotel. Good luck with the last few remaining weeks!

Gerald takes his job very seriously

Nauticus Place is a charming Restaurant and Cafe in Brenton-on-Sea, host to a Professional Cookery and Food & Beverage Learnership. Below are the participating learners striking a dashing pose.

Fun in the sun

FNB Middelburg and surrounding region recently sent some of their staff on a training course and it would seem that they breed them happy in Mpumalanga. These first aiders will save your life with a smile!

Service with a smile

From the Ground Up

For the past year AgriSkills has been running a project at Phake Thabeng where we are training the local people to produce vegetables organically. The project is funded by Missio-Austria with funds from the Austrian Development Authority. We got off to a good start with the infrastructure and put up the fence, drilled the borehole, built the reservoir for the water and set up the pump. However when it came to Eskom laying on the power we had to 'wait', so there was a significant delay in getting the vegetables planted. We purchased a generator for the interim but because of the heavy rains in the region we could not get into the project as the soil is very good quality black turf. We are proud to say that after so many delays the project is growing to new heights. Winnie, our associate, is running the project, while Greg, the facilitator, does the training and assists with the infrastructure.

AgriSkills falls under the Drum Beat Group umbrella.

Please visit our website for more information on Drum Beat Academy's Tourist Guide and Event Support Training courses.

Do you comply with OHS?

According to the Amended Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 & 181 of 1993 all companies with 5 or more employees must abide by these regulations.

To know if you comply, ask yourself the following questions:*

1. Does your company have written documentation explaining the evacuation as well as emergency procedures?
2. Does your company have adequate fire equipment?
3. Is the necessary signage indication fire and evacuation routes in place?
4. Are there adequate trained First Aiders (Level 1,2 & 3)?
5. Are there adequate Fire Marshalls responsible for the evacuation of the building?
6. Are there schematic designs mounted to the walls (emergency exits, fire equipment, hoses, smoke detectors, sprinklers, first aid boxes and assembly points)?
7. Are there adequate Regulation First Aid Kits?
8. Is there an alarm system in place to alarm employees in case of an emergency?
9. Have you done evacuation drills with scenarios and written up reports?

If you answered NO to any of these questions, your company is liable and these aspects need to be addressed URGENTLY.

The following need to be in place:*

• An emergency and evacuation plan
• Adequate fire extinguishers and fire hoses
• Necessary signage
• Trained first aiders
• Trained fire marshalls
• Schematic designs on walls
• First aid kits
• Alarm system
• Evacuation drill with scenario training

(*Uni-Excellens)

Go to Drum Beat Academy's Tour Guide and Event Support Training website for more information on our First Aid Training (Level 1, 2 & 3) and Basic Fire Awareness Training courses.

The Brag File

There is nothing better in business than having a satisfied customer. Be it one that has just completed their training or those still a little wet behind the ears that are equipping themselves for their future career path.

Most often people say that bragging is only for the selfish but in business if you don't do it yourself, who will?

Celesté Belelie and Ronell Burger are two star learners from the Professional Cookery Learnership currently running in Oudtshoorn. This photo was taken in the restaurant at African Sky Hotel while they served breakfast.


The next two learners are both from KwaZulu-Natal and did their training through one of Drum Beat's associates, Chris Lake.

On the left is Martinus Nel, showing off his Drum Beat Certificate, who to date is Chris Lake's most senior (oldest) tour guide candidate. Martinus, 73, is a very keen and enthusiastic guide and a mine of information about the Weenen District.

On the right is Allison Lettinga a go ahead farmer's wife from the district of Ixopo. She has worked out a unique tour programme of the Southern Drakensberg including some interesting birding and San/Bushmen Rock Art sites.

This group from Potgietersrus recently passed their First Aid Level 1 training course with flying colours! Their inquisitive minds were keen to learn and helped them apply their theoretical knowledge and practical exercise exactly where it counted during the assessments.

Congratulations and good luck!

For more information on Drum Beat Academy's Tourist Guide and Event Support Training and other courses please visit our website.

Conference and Workshop Venue Hire

Our facilities are available for hire to individuals, organisations and groups for conferences, workshops, meetings, lectures and training.

We have two superb spacious and functional conference rooms available that can easily handle up to 15 people.

The following options are available:

Option A (R160.00 per person)
Arrival: Coffee, Tea and Rusks
Midmorning: Coffee, Tea and Biscuits
Lunch: Light Lunch
Afternoon: Coffee, Tea and Biscuits

Option B (R190.00 per person)
Arrival: Coffee, Tea and Muffins/Scones
Midmorning: Coffee, Tea and Snacks (Sandwiches)
Lunch: One Meat, Starch, One Vegetable and Salad
Afternoon: Coffee, Tea and Biscuits

Option C (R220.00 per person)
Arrival: Coffee, Tea and Muffins/Scones
Midmorning: Coffee, Tea and Snacks (Sandwiches)
Lunch: Two Meat, Starch, Two Vegetables, Salad and Dessert
Afternoon: Coffee, Tea and Biscuits

All options include: Water, sweets and cordial on tables, pen and writing pad, safe and secure parking.

Please go to our website for information on Tourist Guide and Event Support Training and our Venue Hire.

100 % South African

Truth be told when you sit down and think about it there is no one thing that defines Truly South African. Everybody has his/her own view of what characterises being South African. Whether it originated in South Africa or if it was incorporated into our culture through the decades, it really doesn’t matter. All these elements bind our different cultures together to build the Rainbow Nation that flows through the veins of our little piece of Africa.

I did a pole in the office to find out what it is exactly that we think is Truly South African. This is what I found:

Cedric (ATS): Pap & Wors

Christa (Hospitality): Maroelas & Amaroela

Danie (AgriSkills): Knysna Loerie (Tauraco corythaix)

Daphne (Reception): OppiKoppi Music Festival

Ester (Admin): Lekker

Hannetjie (AgriSkills): Drakensberg Mountains

Hermann (ATS): Boeremeisies

John (Conservation): Bakgat

Lizette (MD DBA/ATS): Bobotie, Geelrys & Raisins

Ockert (Owner DBA): African Drums

Paal (Sport): Friendliness of the People

Rina (Finance): Braaivleis, Music, Brandy & Rugby

Vance (Guiding): Vellies

Winnie (AgriSkills): Humanity

Other things that came to light includes: Fynbos, Mampoer, Baobab Tree, Table Mountain, Bushveld Sunrise, the fact that any song can be turned into a Sokkie Treffer, Traffic Light Entrepreneurs (a.k.a. Street Sellers), Potjiekos, the shrill Sonbesie (Cicada) sound of summer, Biltong, Droëwors, Castle, Mrs. Balls, Taxis, Koeksisters, Melktert, Sheba, Vuvuzela, and that’s just to name a few. What is Truly South African to you?

The Witness' view on Proudly South African (video).

Visit our website: Tourist Guide and Event Support Training

Snake Identification & Dangerous Snake Handling Courses

These very practical and brilliantly informative courses were developed over 16 years of intense study and practical research on the characteristics and behaviors of all our South African snake species, with special emphasis on Venomous snake species.

By attending this course I will share my life’s knowledge and experience with you on how to approach, identify (module1: Snake ID course) and safely capture, remove and release (module 2: Dangerous snake handling course) any South African snake.

This course is not only a benefit to game rangers which often have to remove snakes out of their guestrooms but it will be a benefit to any person working in the tourism industry, fieldworkers, fireman, doctors and even interested housewives that want to know more about the reptiles living in their area.

Module 1: Snake Identification course:

The Snake ID course starts 08h00 – 13h30

This course covers:

• Identification of all the SA snake families
• Personalities of each species
• Symptoms of snakebite
• First aid treatment

Cost for the course is R 500.00 per person.
Certificates will be available within two weeks after completion of the course.

Module 2: Dangerous Snake handling course:

The Dangerous Snake Handling course starts that same day 14h00 – 18h00
This course consists of:

• Equipment confidence
• Proper handling techniques
• Practical handling by each learner under my supervision
• Verbal Questions & Answers during handling session

Cost for the course is R 500.00 per person.
Certificates will be available within two weeks after completion of the course.

(Note: both courses are non credit bearing.)

Venue:

We have two training venues available:
The first option will be Drum Beat Academy’s main campus on the corner of George Storrar & Van Wouw Street, Groenkloof (Pta).
The second option will be a satellite campus at number 124, Fifth Avenue, Gerhardsville, Centurion (Pta).
Maps to both venues are available on request.

Courses offered to companies etc. at their own training facilities for a minimum group size of 10 learners or more. The company will have to provide for their own catering (tea breaks & lunch) and supply the necessary presentation equipment (e.g. overhead projector) in the event of training at their own premises.

Enquiries: Hencke Marais
Telephone: 083 650 3481
Fax no: 086 618 8209
EMAIL: henckemarais@gmail.com

Please go to Drum Beat Academy's website to learn more about Tourist Guide and Event Support training.