Why Dac Systems means so much to Mpumalanga community

Dac Systems is a Gauteng-based national specialist services provider, focused on turnkey implementation of leading edge industry solutions to help solve common business problems and processes.

The small, impoverished area of Shongwe in Mpumalanga lies close to the hearts of the company's personnel.

Every year the residents of Shongwe in Mpumalanga await the arrival of a special team of dedicated personnel from Dac Systems. These members of staff head through to Shongwe as part of an established outreach programme, in order to build a house for an individual chosen by the community, as well as to donate 'care-packs' to the local community.

The Shongwe Project, which has been running for a decade, forms part of the company's ongoing corporate social initiative programme, which also involves mentorship programmes, under the banner of the Nkomazi Trust. The Trust owns shares in Dac Systems.

“Dac Systems sees the Shongwe trip as an opportunity for the staff to give back to the community. It is also a very powerful team-building exercise. People who go to Shongwe are involved in house-building and care-walks, through which contact is made with the community supported by the Trust. Some run a programme for the orphans and other young children of the community. Those who are unable to attend this event contribute to the 'care packs', which are food items handed out in the local community,” explains Gary Carter, Chairman of the Board at Dac Systems and Trustee of the Nkomazi Trust.

Executive leadership at Dac Systems say while the initiative does benefit the company by reinforcing its broad-based black economic empowerment (BBEE) rating, the chief reason behind its participation is to empower the people of Shongwe. They believe the initiative continues to impact significantly on the development of the community and welfare of its people.

“In addition to regular communication we receive from those who continue to benefit from the programme, we have also recently received news that the house that DAC built in August of this year has been fully equipped with electricity. Last year, one of the orphans for whom a house was built six years ago, and who, after leaving matric, joined Dac Systems as part of the company's Learnership programme, returned to Shongwe as part of the DAC team to assist with the building of the new house. DAC is dedicated to the development of people and communities through this initiative. We are also totally committed to help build business through exceptional service delivery to our clients,” Carter concludes.