Datacentrix, an IT infrastructure and solutions provider, has confirmed its pre-eminent status as an empowered ICT company. It achieved an "A" rating on its BEE credentials through EmpowerDex, an independent economic empowerment rating and research agency.
It is one of few companies to attain this level of ranking.
According to EmpowerDex`s calculations, the verified ownership of black people in Datacentrix is 47%. Black interests effectively control 41% of the company through their weighted representation on the holding company`s board of directors and women an effective 33%.
"Based on this control and the effective flow of economic benefits to black people, Datacentrix meets the DTI Strategy Document definition of a black empowered company," says EmpowerDex executive director, Chia-Chao Wu. "The `A` rating awarded to Datacentrix serves to validate the organisation`s dedication to proactively tackle economic empowerment.
"The organisation has made exceptional contributions to all areas of BEE, including employment equity, skills development, affirmative procurement, as well as enterprise and social development," he adds.
In terms of employment equity, of a total workforce of 421 people, 43% of employees are black and 37% are women. "We view employment equity as a business strategy," says Gary Morolo, executive chairman at Datacentrix. "This encompasses the elimination of unfair discrimination, affirmative action, the creation of equal opportunities and the appreciation of diversity."
EmpowerDex also highlights Datacentrix`s social, skills and enterprise development strategies, as well as solid procurement policies and use of BEE small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) as service providers. In particular, a focused skills development policy, which saw expenditure of R1 265 000 for the year ending 28 February 2003, demonstrates Datacentrix`s commitment to supporting regular training and development for employees. This has the effect of providing the company with a hard to match Competitive-edge.
"It is our policy to only appoint empowered SMEs as partners to service our countrywide customer base. We have successfully partnered a number of SMEs during the infrastructure project rolled out for the IEC during the 1999 elections, and subsequently deployed this model as a strategic delivery model for our national contracts. Currently, 13 SMEs form part of this strategic pool of partners," he concludes.
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