Curriculum Vitae
of
Johannes P. du Toit (Johan)
Date of Birth 21 June 1956
Place of Birth Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citizenship South African
ID No 560621 5089 086
Address 208 Lancaster Rd Gordons Bay 7150
Contact Cellular 082 378 7791
Email [email protected] [email protected]
Highlights:
• 15 years’ experience in journalism, editing and translation work • 20 years’ experience in corporate communications and consulting
Education
1974 Matriculated at Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch English, Afrikaans, Mathematics, Biology, History, German
1975 National Service – SANDF Administrative Services Corps
1982 Graduated University of Stellenbosch B.A. Social Sciences – Political Science, Sociology English, German, Afrikaans
1983- 1984 Various in-house training courses in journalism – radio and TV
1993- 1994 Completed the Diploma course in Public Relations Practice and the Diploma course Management through the Public Relations Institute of SA (PRISA) - Certified as a Public Relations practitioner
2004 Diploma in Business/Financial Analysis for Journalists - University of Stellenbosch, Graduate School of Business
2017 Completed a mid-level course in Photography at Studio 7 in Strand. Completed modules in portraiture, studio photography, flash photography and product photography
2018 Completed a two- day workshop in real estate and architectural photography at Studio 7 in Strand
Recent work experience
1st April 2005 – 31 May 2017
Employed as a senior Consultant at Meropa Communications, one of South Africa’s leading independent public relations companies
Work activities included:
• devising and implementing public relations strategies and activities for leading corporations • Writing media releases, writing speech notes and position papers, set up media interviews • Set up media round tables for clients • Write articles for the media • Do media monitoring and assess the level of media exposure and publicity achieved for clients • Draft appropriate responses to specific media enquiries on behalf of clients
Current employment
Owner/Director of JDTCommunications, an independent PR consultancy based in Gordons Bay, since June 2017
Clients include the Gigajoule Group, a Centurion-based energy company in the natural gas sector with major operations in Mozambique; Mediaweb, Investec Page 2 of 5
Bank, and FAnews/FAnuus – the magazine for financial intermediaries in South Africa.
Currently doing all the real estate photography for Seeff’s offices in Gordon’s Bay
Endorsement from FAnews:
“Our relationship with Johan du Toit of JDTCommunications goes back about 15 years. He delivers high quality translation work and is always on time when given a deadline. It is clear that he puts a lot of effort into the work given to him and when reviewing his work, I seldom have to make any changes. We fully endorse the work JDTCommunications does.”
Rianet Whitehead – Editor, FA News (Financial Advisors’ News)
Membership of professional bodies
Member of the South African Translators Institute (SATI) Member of the South African Freelance Association (SAFREA)
Career highlights and relevant experience
From 2000 – 2005, during my stint as business journalist at Die Burger, a daily newspaper in the Media24 stable (now Fin24) I gained insight into the financial services industry and unit trust fund industry. Attended roadshows of the major financial services companies such as Sanlam Investment Management, and Coronation Fund Managers. Also reported on the annual results of companies such as Santam and Sanlam.
From 2005 to 2007 responsible for building the media profile of Old Mutual Corporate (Employee Benefits division).
From 2007 to 2009 I was responsible for building the media profile of clients such as Nedgroup Investments from an a virtually unknown unit trust fund manager to one who is now competing in the same media space as Investec, Allan Gray, Coronation Fund Managers, Sanlam Investment Managers and other prominent asset managers.
My most recent clients while employed at Meropa Communications were Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA), the South African National Road Agency (SANRAL) in the Western Cape; and Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) in Somerset West.
In July 2016 the first ever “green flights” in South Africa were undertaken – two regular passenger flights (South African Airlines and Mango) from Johannesburg to Cape Town with bio-fuel, produced from experimental crops Page 3 of 5
of the Solaris plant. The event was sponsored by my client Boeing in partnership with the South Africa Airways (SAA). I was responsible for managing the media component of the event in collaboration with public relations staff at SAA.
During 2008 built a positive media profile for PPC Riebeek West cement plant despite vociferous opposition from local residents and negative media reports about the alleged negative environmental impacts of the proposed new plant.
Skills and Strengths
• Fully bilingual - Afrikaans and English • Excellent writing and communication skills • Excellent contacts in the media industry – specifically the aviation industry; personal finance, military and defence; business and investments – print, radio, television and websites • Relate well to people • Focused and determined to succeed • Computer literate, with a good knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite • Photography • Translation work: Currently does the English to Afrikaans translations of articles for FANews, the leading monthly magazine for intermediaries in the short-term, long-term insurance and financial services industry
Employment History
1980 – 1981 Administrative Assistant - Dept of Social Welfare in Cape Town
1981 - 1983 Radio news journalist – SABC, Cape Town
1984 – 1988 TV News Journalist – Namibia Broadcasting Corporation Windhoek
1989- 1994 Public Relations Officer: Corporate Affairs Office - Rössing Uranium Mine, Windhoek, Namibia
1994 -1995 Public Relations Officer – Internal Communications Rossing Uranium Mine, Swakopmund, Namibia
1996 - 1999 Training and Development Officer - Rössing Uranium Mine Swakopmund, Namibia
2000- 2004 Business Journalist, Media 24, Die Burger Cape Town
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2004 – 03/2005 Editor: Personal Finance page of Die Burger (Jou Geldsake)
4/2005 – 05/2017 Senior Public Relations Consultant, Meropa Communications, Cape Town
01/06/2017 to date Owner/Director of JDTCommunications – an independent communications consultancy
General interests and hobbies
Trail running, cycling, classical music, photography, current affairs, philosophy and spirituality
General Information
Unrestricted Code 08 Drivers License
References
Johan de Vos: Managing Director, the Gigajoule Group, Centurion Landline 012 682 9120. Mobile: 082 448 8127 E-mail: [email protected]
Rianet Whitehead: Editor, FA News/ FANuus, Johannesburg, tel 011 768 2299 Email: [email protected]
Stephen Forbes: Director, Meropa Communications, Cape Town 021 683 6464/ cell 082 573 4379 Email: [email protected]
Keelan Morris: Head: Communications, Boeing Commercial Airplanes UK, tel +44 7798 828790 Email: [email protected]
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