Coega wins prestigious CSI-Ubuntu Award
THE Coega Development Corporation (CDC) announced today that it has won the CSI-Ubuntu Award at the prestigious Motlekar Holdings BBQ Awards.
The CDC walked away with the LTE Consulting CSI – Ubuntu Award at the annual gala dinner held at Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg last week (Friday, 30 October).
The Motlekar Holdings BBQ Awards, South Africa’s most prestigious and longest running black business awards ceremony, celebrate good corporate governance and leadership.
The competition is open to 12 categories, with the awards seen as a platform to applaud world-class individuals as well as black-owned and empowered companies and organisations in South Africa.
The CDC was recognised for its deep commitment to corporate social investment (CSI) across a range of areas. During the 2014/15 FY, the CDC invested more than R17-million in the local and regional communities.
“It was humbling for the CDC to be nominated as a worthy contributor to corporate social investment,” said Thandi Rayi, CDC CSI manager.
Since the establishment of the CSI programmes, CSI projects growing at an alarming rate and have also been implemented in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal.
The community initiatives include the Youth Leadership Development Academy (YLDA); driver training and maths and science programmes; the Lawhill Maritime Bursary Scheme; science expos; the SAICE Water Bridge Competition; career guidance programmes; Vision 4 Mentoring for Girls (a mentorship programme for young women); chess development; the ANF Accounting Academy; a disability affirmation programme; social assistance to destitute families and an employee involvement programme.
“We have impacted the lives of over 13 000 people, directly and indirectly, through Coega-led CSI initiatives which focus on skills, education, training, upliftment and empowerment,” said Rayi.
The CSI – Ubuntu category criteria required finalists to have, over the past 12 months, complied with the following requirements:
• Must be more than 50 % black owned.
• Must demonstrate its involvement in socio-economic development initiatives, projects or programmes in education, community development, job creation and skills development.
• The entity must demonstrate that it has made a life-changing impact on its beneficiaries, either by helping them acquire a skill or enabling them to become self-sustainable.
• Must recognise the importance of contributing to public and community development and the stability of our nation.
• Must demonstrate its percentage towards CSI contribution.
• Must demonstrate that at least 85% of the money spent on projects benefited the intended beneficiaries.
Ends
About Coega: The Coega Development Corporation (Pty) Ltd (CDC) is the operator of the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa. Established in 1999, the CDC is wholly-owned by the South African Government. The Coega IDZ is South Africa’s premier location for new industrial investments. The CDC aims to provide a competitive investment location and a total business solution for its customers, as well as ensuring sustainable economic development in the region. The CDC’s IDZ Zone 2 is a fully registered Customs Control Area. To date, the CDC has delivered on its mandate to provide socio-economic development for the Eastern Cape, has enabled the creation of 96 776 direct jobs since inception, with 31 operational investors and boasts an investment portfolio in excess of R161-billion. The CDC has also trained 71 445 people since inception.
For more information contact:
______________________________
Dr Ayanda Vilakazi
Head of Marketing and Communications
Coega Development Corporation
Work: 041 403 0464
Fax: 041 403 0401
E-mail: ayanda.vilakazi@coega.co.za