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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
AUGUST
2016
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MARKETPLACE
As the leading black-controlled
construction materials group in
Southern Africa and the only estab-
lished cement manufacturer with a
Level 4 B-BBEE rating, AfriSam is committed
to enabling economic development on the
African continent. It believes in contributing
in a sustainable and meaningful manner to
communities surrounding its operations.
New Business Consulting, comprising a
number of entities including local entrepre-
neurs, a women-owned company as well
as the B-BBEE Makgotla Trust representing
clans exceeding 2 000 members, strives to
empower mining communities through its
economic development model.
As part of the MoU, a number of enterprise
development opportunities within the
Bafokeng area have been identified and are
currently being investigated. Amongst these
is the establishment of containers as cement
sales outlets as well as a premix bagged
product manufacturing facility. The goal is to
establish sustainable local enterprise devel-
opment businesses that will directly benefit
the Bafokeng people.
“All the projects we have identified
strongly align with, and support, the
strategic objectives and enterprise devel-
opment goals of the Royal Bafokeng Group
and should create shared value for all parties
involved, including the local community”,
Partners to
CREATE ENTERPRISE
development opportunities
At a ceremony held at Phokeng, North West Province,
AfriSam and New Business Consulting, a 100% Broad-Based
Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Bafokeng-owned
company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU), cementing a partnership aimed at facilitating
enterprise development and creating job opportunities
for the Royal Bafokeng Nation.
says Roshni Lawrence, strategic growth exec-
utive at AfriSam.
Cement and construction related
products are a fundamental requirement
for infrastructure development and broader
economic growth. It is for this reason that
AfriSam is proud of the positive contribution
it can make to society through the products
it manufactures.
In addition to its products, AfriSam’s
geographical footprint also enables the
company to create value for local communi-
ties through its community upliftment initi-
atives and by providing employment oppor-
tunities. AfriSam has an extensive network of
cement, aggregate and readymix operations,
which enables the company to play an active
role in the growth and development of most
regions in Southern Africa.
It is this very network that gives the
company access to some of most remote
locations in regions around the country and
allows it opportunities to build relation-
ships with communities surrounding its
operations. In fact, because of its expansive
footprint, AfriSam is the only concrete mate-
rials business that is positioned to partner
meaningfully with small businesses to create
possibilities for local communities.
“We welcome AfriSam in the land of the
Bafokeng. Our journey is on course to claim
the Royal Bafokeng Nation’s Vision 2035 as
our own. We are on track to offer commer-
cially sound services and quality products at
competitive prices to the mines that we, as
the Royal Bafokeng Nation, own and those
operating in our land through land leases.
“We aim to further assist our neighbours
from other mining communities and local
municipalities to set up enterprise develop-
ment projects with them.
“We invite Provincial Government, the
National Youth Development Agency (NYDA),
private equity partners and construc-
tion companies to leverage our model to
empower women and people living with
disability through setting up of cooperatives
and CSR initiatives that can benefit from
this initiative.
“This is a beneficial model to initiate
Public-Private Partnerships and create
value for our people. We want to bring real
change through B-BBEE empowerment to all
previously disadvantaged South Africans by
offering them a tool to empower themselves”,
says Ernest Mogopodi, the chairperson of
New Business Consulting.
“We are extremely proud of our associa-
tion with the Royal Bafokeng Nation.
We look forward to contributing towards
the continued growth and development
of the Bafokeng region and its people,”
concludes Lawrence.
Back from left: Ian Venter (MD of Royal Bafokeng Enterprise Development), Moss Ramatja (New Business
Consulting), Itu Diala (Women Group of New Business Consulting) and Damaria Masilo (Women Group of
New Business Consulting).
Front from left: Gerhard Maree (AfriSam), Roshni Lawrence (Strategic Growth Executive, AfriSam),
Ernest Mogopodi (Chairman of New Business Consulting) and Kgosana Phillimon Rabyae (Tau Bashiga
Community Development Trust).
Absent from photo: Steve Mputle (New Business Consulting).
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