Tongaat Hulett continues to make good progress by building on its proud history of numerous meaningful and sustainable broad based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) initiatives for the benefit of all stakeholders. Steps continue to be taken to ensure that processes and measurements within the company are aligned with the relevant regulatory requirements and the South African Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Codes of Good Practice. Where applicable, operations have been involved in the formulation of relevant industry/sector scorecards.
Transformation, equal opportunity, the creation of a diverse employee profile and indigenisation remain key performance areas in every geographical region where Tongaat Hulett operates.
BBBEE Scorecard |
Score |
||
| Element | 2007 | 2008 | 2009/10 |
| Equity Ownership | 21,63 | 19,05 | 21,59 |
| Management & Control | 6,99 | 7,83 | 7,80 |
| Employment Equity | 9,16 | 9,78 | 10,18 |
| Skills Development | 6,34 | 4,39 | 5,96 |
| Preferential Procurement | 12,32 | 9,33 | 12,70 |
| Enterprise Development | 13,73 | 15,00 | 15,00 |
| Socio Economic Development | 5,00 | 5,00 | 5,00 |
| Total | 75,16 | 70,38 | 78,23 |
| BBBEE Level Rating | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Tongaat Hulett established the ESOP and MSOP employee ownership schemes for the benefit of all South African black employees and senior black management respectively, effectively placing a collective interest of 7 percent in the hands of such employees. The overall objective of the schemes is to retain and attract high calibre black employees at every level of the business and to create a sense of ownership amongst employees, as well as to entrench an ownership culture within the greater Tongaat Hulett workforce. The introduction of BBBEE equity participation in 2007, included an 18 percent participation by two BBBEE groupings, Ayavuna Women’s Investments, as an anchor partner, combining with the Mphakathi Trust, which benefits the communities surrounding the Tongaat Hulett property developments and Sangena Investments, as an anchor partner, combining with the Masithuthukisane Trust, which benefits the small scale cane grower communities surrounding Tongaat Hulett’s four South African sugar mills.
The third BBBEE rating audit by AQRate was conducted in 2009 with Tongaat Hulett being categorised as a Level Three Contributor, with an overall score of 78,23 percent compared to the previous year’s score of 70,38 percent. The detailed comparative scorecards are shown above.
This means that entities purchasing from Tongaat Hulett may recognise 110 percent of the value of their Tongaat Hulett purchases in the procurement element of their scorecards. Going forward, reporting systems and targets will continue to be reviewed to ensure maximum alignment with the elements of the DTI Codes of Good Practice. The highlights of the accreditation is the improved scoring in preferential procurement, equity ownership, employment equity and skills development elements. Management will continue to work towards the improvement of scorecard points where possible. Tongaat Hulett believes that BBBEE is essential to the sustainability of its South African operations, as well as the prosperity of South Africa and its people.