Anglo American’s commitment to creating a real difference in entrepreneurial development in South Africa saw the company’s dedicated enterprise development arm, Zimele, win the 2012 Southern Africa Trust and Mail & Guardian Drivers of Change business award.
Anglo American’s commitment to creating a real difference in entrepreneurial development in South Africa saw the company’s dedicated enterprise development arm, Zimele, win the 2012 Southern Africa Trust and Mail & Guardian Drivers of Change business award. The award ceremony took place on Thursday, 1 November 2012, at Constitutional Hill in Johannesburg, alongside the 2012 Investing in the Future awards.
The Drivers of Change Awards celebrates companies, individuals, civil society and government projects across Southern Africa that positively impact the lives of people living in poverty, through the development and implementation of effective public policies and strategies.
It is awarded in four categories, namely, civil society, government, individual and business.
Recipients of the award in each of the four categories must demonstrate innovation in the strategies used to develop better public policy, and focus on making a real difference to the material conditions of people living in poverty. They must also include diverse voices in their policy, including the voices of the poor.
One of the judges, Dr. Iqbal Surve, commended the Fund for creating a meaningful difference in communities.
"Zimele is a well-balanced enterprise development initiative in the mining communities of South Africa that has a huge budget for training and mentorship in impoverished areas. They have assisted with numerous sustainable, commercially viable enterprises, and empowered entrepreneurs to operate in the mainstream economy through their four funds.
"Through providing business opportunities, training, capital and networking hubs, Zimele ensures that numerous historically disadvantaged South Africans have the opportunity to own a business that will provide them with far better earning power in both the short term and the long term."
Surve is the co-founder and current chairman of the Sekunjalo Group, which is a collation of companies, investments and funds. He is also a medical doctor, philanthropist, and social entrepreneur.
Since 1989, Zimele has successfully empowered numerous black Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs, and generated sustainable job creation and socio-economic development in predominantly peri-urban mining communities.
Zimele enables the companies it invests in to stand on their own feet and to grow, through a strategic blend of financial support and incubator-style mentorship.
This unique approach to enterprise development has realised great rewards. From 2008 to 15 December 2011, its four funds have provided R567 million in funding, supported 1,085 companies, and completed 1,481 loan transactions. Further, funded businesses have employed 19,575 people, and achieved a collective annual turnover of R2, 4 billion.
Dr Lia Vangelatos, acting head of Zimele, says that the award is validation for the tangible impact that has resulted from the Fund’s activities over the years.
"Zimele is honoured to receive this award, and maintain that this acknowledgment demonstrates that our funding model has proved truly effective in furthering enterprise development in South Africa, and easing poverty and unemployment on a wide-scale.
"Moving forward, Zimele is determined to mentor, fund and support numerous other entrepreneurs and SME’s, and inspire others to replicate our model, and adopt it as a best practice driver of positive and real change in our country."
Ends
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Notes to editors:
About Anglo American:
Anglo American is one of the world’s largest mining companies, is headquartered in the UK and listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges. Anglo American’s portfolio of mining businesses spans bulk commodities – iron ore and manganese, metallurgical coal and thermal coal; base metals – copper and nickel; and precious metals and minerals – in which it is a global leader in both platinum and diamonds. Anglo American is committed to the highest standards of safety and responsibility across all its businesses and geographies and to making a sustainable difference in the development of the communities around its operations. The company’s mining operations, extensive pipeline of growth projects and exploration activities span southern Africa, South America, Australia, North America, Asia and Europe. www.angloamerican.com
About Zimele
Since 1989, Zimele has successfully empowered numerous black Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs, and generated sustainable job creation and socio-economic development in predominantly peri-urban mining communities.
Zimele enables the companies it invests in to stand on their own feet and to grow, through a strategic blend of financial support and incubator-style mentorship.
This is achieved through four funds which provide business opportunities, training, capital and networking hubs for historically disadvantaged South Africans (HDSAs) and SMEs. These funds are the Anglo American Khula Mining Fund, the Supply Chain Fund, the Community Fund and the Green Fund.