South African companies and individuals towards the development of Black Economic Empowerment, the prestigious Oliver Empowerment Awards hosted by Topco Media’s annual empowerment publication Impumelelo, acknowledged, congratulated and celebrated the efforts made by these companies and individuals towards the development of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and socio-economic transformation.
From an impressive list of 60 finalists, winners in 16 categories were announced at a black tie event on Thursday 3 May 2012 at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg.
The winners in 16 categories are listed below:
Empowerment Funding Award: Absa Group Limited
Education and Training Award: Dormac (Pty) Ltd
Supply Chain Management Award: Netcare Limited
Corporate Leadership Award: SizweNtsalubaGobodo Inc
Community Development Award: Netcare Limited
New Black Business Development Award: Netcare Limited
Diversity Award: Lion of Africa Insurance Company Limited
Top Black Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Bongi-M Construction cc – Ms Sibongile Maseko
Top Black Business Leader of the Year Award: Sizwe Ntsaluba Gobodo Inc. – Ms Nonkululeko Gobodo
Top Black Public Sector Executive Award: SAMSA – Commander Tsietse Mokhele
Top Black Owned Business of the Year Award: Lebone Engineering (Pty) Ltd
Top Empowered Business of the Year Award: SizweNtsalubaGobodo Inc
Top Black Owned SMME Award: Molobeng Mining Labour Hire and Projects SA (Pty) Ltd
Public Service Award: SA Maritime Safety Authority
Top Empowered Multinational Award: Microsoft South Africa (Pty) Ltd
NGO of the Year Award: Zenzele Training and Development
The Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) is a programme launched by the South African government to redress inequalities prompted by Apartheid. By giving previously disadvantaged groups (black Africans, Coloureds, Indians and some Chinese) of South African citizens economic opportunities previously made unavailable to them, it intends to transform the economy to be representative of the demographics, specifically race demographics. This includes measures such as Employment Equity, skills development, ownership, management, socio-economic development, and preferential procurement.
BEE was defined in the 2001 Commission and has been seen means to create sustainable economic growth in South Africa. Although it has received criticism, it is perceived to be vital to their corporate strategy.
Source: Sowetanlive
