transformation

vision

2010

 

 

 

 

 

“Despite the economic successes, a broad range of state policy, strategy programmes and other interventions, the disparities caused by our apartheid past continue to characterise the economy and act as a deterrent to growth, economic development, employment creation and poverty eradication.

 

Vast racial and gender inequalities in the distribution of, and access to, wealth, income, skills and employment persist. As a consequence, our economy continues to perform below its full potential” – government’s Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment strategy.

 

The tenets of employment equity, black empowerment and social upliftment are not new to Altron. For decades the principles have been firmly embedded in the group’s culture, with particular emphasis on growing the economy, developing human resources and eliminating discrimination in the workplace.

 

The Altron Group is a leader in the South African information, communications and technology (ICT) sector through its Altech, BTG and Powertech operating companies. Powertech also has operations servicing the building and construction and energy sectors.

The ICT Charter Working Group has made vast progress in the formulating of a black economic empowerment (BEE) Charter for the ICT industry, which will, as is the case with the Mining, Liquid Fuels and Financial sector charters, clearly define targets and measurements for the sector. Altron supports the national programme for economic transformation, not only because it constitutes a moral imperative, but because the development of a stable, equitable society in South Africa makes sound commercial sense.

The group is committed to meeting the requirements for the upliftment of its own people as well as for previously disadvantaged communities in terms of education, training, skills development, housing, health, social welfare and job creation.

At the annual strategic planning meeting of the Altron Executive Committee (EXCO), held on 21 August 2002, the Group Executive Director for Corporate Affairs, Advocate Dali Mpofu, proposed a future strategy for developing Altron’s overall BEE outlook under the umbrella of “Altron’s Transformation Vision 2010” (Vision 2010). The plan was, in principle, accepted and endorsed by the EXCO.

Altron’s Vision 2010 incorporated five distinct phases, all of which have now been completed. The phases have been:

1. Adoption of transformation strategy by EXCO (Completed 21 August 2002).

2. Establishing a group-wide representative task team to pursue strategy and draft documents (Completed November 2002). This body comprises 12 persons, four of whom represent each sub-holding group as well as Salomé Brown (Altron head office) and its Chairperson and EXCO member, Dali Mpofu.

3. The holding of a two-day group Indaba attended by 100 implementers and external speakers and with the group Chairman, Dr Bill Venter, and group CE, Robert Venter, endorsing the strategy (Completed 20 & 21 June 2003).

4. Compilation of a draft document, “Altron Transformation Vision 2010” as an empowerment blueprint (Completed October 2003).

 

5. Adoption by the group company boards and the Altron Board as group policy (completed March 2004).

In addition to the above, the theme of transformation was adopted for the 2003 Altron Annual Awards ceremony held on 4 July 2003 and attended by the group’s 400 most senior executives. Both Dali Mpofu and top SA businessman and BEE champion, Cyril Ramaphosa, delivered strategic addresses dealing with BEE and transformation at the Altron and national levels, respectively.

This approach was aimed at further obtaining the buy-in of the broader leadership of the Altron Group and according to an internal survey, these presentations were both well received. A decision was made to embark on a shared transformation vision covering the period 2002 – 2010 with the objective of restructuring a wide spectrum of activities within the group regarding BEE. This vision incorporates auditing and accounting for the work that is already being done at operating level and setting measurable goals for achievement over a defined period.

The Vision 2010 document is a product of this deliberately transparent and lengthy process aimed at involving the various internal stakeholders who will be responsible for the implementation of the policies. What follows, therefore, is an initiative aimed at compiling effective and clear policies to guide every person in Altron toward placing the group on the map as an effective and meaningful transforming South African company.

The Vision 2010 document is deliberately intended to be adaptable and will be subject to continuous and periodic reviews to ensure that it keeps abreast of the latest legislative developments and industry charters which are currently being developed.