The Coega Development Corporation (CDC), a leading catalyst for championing of socio-economic development in the Eastern Cape and South Africa at large walked away with three prestigious awards at the 15th Annual Oliver Empowerment Awards held at Emperors Palace, Ekurhuleni (east of Johannesburg) on the 14th April 2016.
The Oliver Empowerment Awards celebrate companies and individuals for their contribution and commitment to empowerment in South Africa, recognise the efforts of businesses, civil society, the public sector and truly outstanding individuals.
In its 15th year, the Oliver Empowerment Awards is South Africa’s most established and premier awards event for leadership and innovation in empowerment and transformation, creating a legacy of inspiration for the country’s business elite. The Oliver Empowerment Awards has given South Africa the opportunity to recognise outstanding leaders, whether individuals or organisations, that have exemplified inspiration, vision, innovation leadership and action for empowerment and transformation.
The CDC won the following prestigious awards:
- Legends of Empowerment & Transformation, an award given to the organisation that makes a significant contribution to transformation in South Africa. This award aims to inspire and encourage other organisations and is given at the discretion of the Oliver Empowerment Awards Editorial Board and not necessarily awarded every year. Only 15 companies were recipients of this honorary award, which include: Absa Group Limited, Woolworths, Metropolitan Holding Ltd, Super Group Limited, Total SA, Volkswagen Group SA, Netcare Limited, KPMG, First Rand Limited, to name but a few.
- Job Creation Award sponsored by Rand Water, this award goes to the organization that has contributed positively toward the alleviation of poverty in South Africa, through the sustainable creation of meaningful employment.
- Top Empowered Vision 2030 Award, sponsored by MMI Holdings, supports the objectives of the National Development Plan 2030 (NDP). In an effort to extend this vision, the CDC’s business operations, identifies three areas of focus within the NDP which are: (1) Raising employment through faster economic growth. (2) Improving the quality of education, skills development and innovation. (3) Building the capability of the state to play a developmental, transformative role.
“We are absolutely pleased with the honour bestowed upon the CDC by the Oliver Empowerment Awards. These awards are an indication of CDC’s continued commitment to improving the lives of ordinary South Africans, while creating hope and transforming the economic landscape of the Eastern Cape and greater South Africa,” said Dr Ayanda Vilakazi, CDC unit head of marketing & communications.
Furthermore, these awards are in recognition of CDC’s excellent achievements in the past few years. For example, in the 2014/2015 FY the CDC’s revenue increased from R383.5 million to R441.8- million, representing a year-on-year growth of 15%. In the 2015/16 FY it is projected that CDC will achieve 17 new investment projects valued at R22.201-billion. Over the past three years, from 2013-2016, CDC has recorded (including 2016 forecast), approximately R25.756-billion in investment arising from 46 new investment projects. Most notable is that the CDC will be celebrating an achievement of 108 511 job opportunities created since inception, 16 years ago.
This achievement is in the backdrop of a depressed economy where SA’s GDP has been growing at less than 2% each year, and is forecast to grow at less than 1% in 2016. In addition, the United Nations on Trade and Development (2015) reported a decline in investment for South Africa (SA).
“Moreover, the CDC’s approach during these challenging times has been to focus on our internal strengths and do much with the little we have. We are a performance driven institution, but at the epicentre of it all remains the mandate to pioneer socio-economic development in South Africa through empowering programmes that will, in the long term, transform the economy of the Eastern Caper and we remain resolute to this ideal.”
Despite the depressed economy, we can congratulate the CDC for a job well done against a tide.
“Being presented with the Job Creation Award, three years in a row is indeed an honour but, above all, it bears testament to the fruits of our labour. We strongly believe the best way to tackle the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment is by creating a sustainable environment that will feed the longevity of CDC’s skills development and training programmes. Furthermore, working closely with academia and tertiary institutions in particular enables us to develop methodologies, systems and processes that deliver on our mandate better. ” explains Dr Vilakazi.
Forming part of the 15th Annual Oliver Empowerment Judging Panel were prominent South African business leaders such as: Chairman of Norton Rose Fullbright: Sibusiso Gule CEO of Global Business Solutions: Johnathan Goldberg, Acting Directior General of Government Communications Information Services: Donald Liphoko, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, RBB of Barclays Africa: Edna Montse, Franchise Director of Discovery: Kate Moodley, CEO of BUSA: Khanyisile Kweyama, Managing Director of Centre for Supplier Development: Molebatsi Moagi, Director of Search Partners International: Mpho Nkeli, Executive Director: HR; Advisory Partner of KPMG: Nhlamulo Dlomu, CEO of TOTI Capital: Private Equity & Investment Company: Pilisiwe Twala-Tau, CEO of CerebralCross Consultancy: Tantaswa Nyoka, Executive Director of BUSA: Vanessa Phala and Non-executive Director and member of remuneration and nomination committee of Exxaro Resources: Vincent Zwelibanzi Mntambo.
Alan Straton
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