Rich, deep, resonant, Andile Ngcaba`s voice matches the lofty ideas he expresses. He talks about having a broad vision, of taking the long-term view, of doing what is best for the people and the country, of his passion for imparting knowledge on technology, of his delight in innovative concepts and models and ideas.
"Implementing a vision is something that takes a long time to work, that is something one recognises," says Ngcaba. "I do not believe in a short-term approach. I must generate new ideas and think about what must be done in 2005 or 2006. These are things I grapple with every day and night."
With all his talk of long-term goals and visions, don`t be fooled into thinking that Ngcaba has his head in the clouds. His eye may be fixed firmly on the future, but when it comes to the daily detail, he`s a stickler. "For any day in the past seven years in my job, I can tell you who I met and what subject was discussed. It is all here," he says, gesturing around his office, where every one of his diaries has been fastidiously filed.
[VIDEO]"You must never lose sight of the overall vision, but then you must break it down into hours and days and weeks and months and years. Making that link between day-to-day projects and the vision is what fascinates me."
Ngcaba`s own working schedule is planned a full year in advance, and then broken down into days and hours. "Everybody wants to pick his brain," his secretary had explained earlier while the `DG`, as his staff call him, was still making his way back to the office.
However busy he may be, there are two types of people Ngcaba says he always finds time for: those with new ideas, and those who want to understand technology. "If somebody on my staff has a new idea, they must come running to me. Work and home are almost one and the same thing, and it is very important to me that the people who work here have the energy to continue to work at home, to keep producing new ideas and projects."
He strides towards the framed departmental code of conduct standing on a shelf in his office. "This is the most important thing in my office," he says, homing in on the word `innovation`. "Innovation, that`s what gives me a kick."
Turning to the flat-screen computer on his desk, he says: "This is the other most important thing. I have a passion for getting people interested in technology so that they feel they are part of it. I must impart knowledge to others. I think I enjoy that more than anything else."
Ngcaba has little time for levity or idle chitchat, though. "I`m a deep person in terms of anything. I enjoy conversations, even informal ones, that are deep and scientific."
Still, he does admit to a hobby or two. One is bungee jumping in the Tsitsikama, Eastern Cape, although he doesn`t indulge often, maybe two or three times a year. "I like to take calculated risks and to live on the edge of life. Bungee is a thrill, it deals with stress. I would also like to do white-water rafting. I am going to learn."
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