The Coega Development Corporation’s (CDC) was recognised as South Africa’s best achieving government parastatal/agency for 2013 at the National Business Awards held in Johannesburg this month.
The award comes in acknowledgment of the CDC’s growing achievements in attracting corporates to the industrial development zone (IDZ) and on its widening berth of external infrastructure projects.
The National Business Awards recognises state-owned enterprises that demonstrate a high level of efficiency and effectiveness. Coega competed against the likes of Eskom, South African Maritime Authority, Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC), South African Weather Services, City Power Johannesburg and the Council for Mineral Technology, amongst others, clinching the prize on its outstanding results.
Coega’s recently released 2012/13 annual results show an organisation on the rise. Momentum and growth revealed itself across the organisation on investment attraction, revenue generation, corporate social investment and an expanding basket of clients for whom Coega is acting as implementing agent.
Coega is working on a number of major infrastructure projects, including schools, hospitals and roads-building initiatives in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
“We take our vision of being a catalyst for socio-economic development very seriously,” said Ayanda Vilakazi, CDC head of marketing and communications. “The in-roads we are making are mammoth and mean real change for thousands of people in one of the poorest provinces in South African. We are relentless in our mission and as we attempt to re-write the future of the Eastern Cape.
“This accolade clearly demonstrates the ascent of Coega and the rise of the Eastern Cape at a national level. The acknowledgement from the business community is a humbling and incredible achievement.”
Vilakazi said Coega leads by example. “We have committed ourselves to working within allocated budgets, remaining aware of and protecting both the environment and sustainable development objectives whilst contributing to the economy. We also pride ourselves on innovation and excellence and the achievement of key performance indicators.”
The National Business Awards was introduced in 2002 to recognise the success, innovation and ethics of South African companies and organisations across all industry sectors.
The awards are presented in association with SA’s Top Performing Publication to honour South Africa’s industry leaders through the acknowledgement of innovative business processes, product development, enterprise, sustainability and overall business success. It was held at Emperors Palace on November 15th.
The CDC submitted it’s 2012/13 Annual Report to the awards and was nominated in both the Top Performing Parastatal/Agency and the Corporate Citizenship Award categories.
“The CDC is equally committed to giving back to the communities in which we operate and our corporate social investment strategy includes the landmark Coega Driver Training Programme and various initiatives that focus on education, training and skills development,” added Vilakazi. “The CDC’s annual report 2012/13 is testament to our success, and it is gratifying that the independent captains of industry seem to agree.”
CDC employees were ecstatic about the win, which was not only well-deserved recognition for Nelson Mandela Bay, but for the Eastern Cape, said Bongi Stofile, CDC Human Resources manager.
“This award symbolises that the CDC is an employer of choice. It is recognition for all the hard work and commitment from our employees who are actively making a positive contribution toward the socio-economic growth of the region and the country. This is a great accolade that we are very proud of and want to celebrate. The challenge ahead is to maintain and improve on our current status and to keep the momentum going forward,” said Stofile.
CDC Safety, Health and Environmental Manager, Johann Brink, said the CDC’s victory was a sign of leadership commitment and teamwork. “We need to use this award as a foundation on which to build and improve particularly in how we create value in sustaining the organisation currently and going forward. This will be reflected in an integrated report in 2013/14.”
Mbuyiselo Daku, CDC finance manager, said the award demonstrates the CDC’s commitment to corporate governance principles, a strict internal control environment and producing reliable financial reports.
Coega’s highlights include exceeding a targeted self-generated revenue of R230-million by R60-million, signing eight new investors, creating 13 569 jobs and training 13 607 people, ensuring that small business has a more than fair share of Coega’s work opportunities and the growth of the CDC’s flagship CSI initiative, the driver training programme.
Alan Straton
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