EMC receives Telkom Silver Award

At the second Annual Telkom Suppliers Awards, EMC was once again recognised as one of Telkom`s top suppliers. Telkom`s first award ceremony took place last year and EMC walked away from the event with a bronze.

This year, EMC received a Silver Award overall. "The winners are selected on five criteria, namely black economic empowerment (BEE), price, quality, delivery and service," says Gerhard van der Merwe, district manager at EMC SA.

"EMC received four Silver awards for price, quality, delivery and service which allowed us to gain an overall Silver."

EMC showed improved activities in the BEE category, receiving a Bronze award in this category. This showed an improvement in employment equity, sub-contracting and affirmative procurement.

"Black economic empowerment, through a combination of affirmative action, skills training, broadened employment opportunities and improved social infrastructures is viewed as being vital to EMC`s long-term prosperity in SA," says Van der Merwe.

EMC, which has been selling information storage and software in SA since 1995, is one of several American-based high-tech companies partnering actively with local black-owned IT firms. "SA, in particular, is making great strides in cultivating scores of highly skilled IT and telecommunications workers who are reinforcing the country`s already-strong position in the global information economy," Van der Merwe concludes.