The winners of the second Black Industrialists Awards were announced at an awards ceremony held at the Sandton International Convention Centre last night. The awards are aimed at recognising the contribution of Black Industrialists towards driving economic growth, social transformation and in advancing inclusive entrepreneurship in the South African economy. The awards ceremony was held under the theme Black Industrialists-Catalysing Economic Growth and Jobs. The awards were presented by President Cyril Ramaphosa. .
Bokone Gas, the Pretoria-based company which was described as the first proudly South African Black woman-owned gas production company with a plant producing medical and industrial gases, romped home with the Black Woman Award.
The Executive Director of the company, Ms Yvonne Rakhuduwe said she was honoured and humbled for being selected the winner of the award.
“I am excited and proud of this award. I am optimistic that it will help us to be impeccable in what we do. This is the result of putting more effort in product quality. Our aim is to establish a solid base in Gauteng, followed by expansion in other provinces. We have started a business proposal with companies in Zambia, Lesotho and Namibia and the feedback is great. We think we will be exporting soon,” added Rakhuduwe.
Pavati Plastics Southern Africa were crowned joint winners with Pele Green for the Sustainability Award. The award recognises firms who make a contribution to the sustainability and climate change agenda in terms of low carbon production, renewable energy generation and/or development of clean technology solutions in the waste, water, green transport, sustainable agriculture or energy sectors.
The Director of Pavati Plastics Southern Africa, Ms Ntombenhle Nhleko said she was pleasantly surprised but humbled by the win. She described the award as a demonstration of hard work.
“Our 44 employees who are youth will be excited that their work has been recognised at this level. We are confident we won this award because of the product development in the background and investment in new technology ahead of its time. Our investment in new manufacturing technology, which is funded by the Industrial Development Corporation and the dtic Black Industrialist Scheme, has afforded the company the opportunity to diversify its product offerings in the market as a result of the expansion project to implement two major manufacturing units,” said Nhleko.
She added that they would be boasting about the award, which she said it would give them confidence to be assertive in what they are doing.
“This award is a truly a motivation and present a challenge for us to go and look for more work. It is going to present a challenge on corporates that have been supporting us to open more doors us and for the dtic and the IDC to advocate for us as sustainability champions,” added Nhleko.
The Executive Director the Pretoria-based company Bokone Gas, Ms Yvonne Rakhuduwe flanked by Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and President Cyril Ramaphosa at the second Black Industrialists Awards ceremony at the Sandton International Convention Centre.
The winners in various categories are:
Innovation award
Snode Technologies
QP Drones
Black Woman Award
Bokone Gas
Youth Award
Sky tents
Manufacturing Award
Mohalefi Engineering
Exporters Award
Baynes Transformers
Dynamic Fluid Control
Sustainability Award
Pele Green
Pavati plastics
Job Creation Award
Dunlop belting
Ministerial Award
Blue economy – Sandock Austral Shipyards
Green Economy Award
Art Solar
Legacy Award
Dr Anna Mokgokong
Enquiries:
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
Tel: (012) 394 1643
Mobile: 079 5083 457
WhatsApp: 074 2998 512
Email: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za or Mediarelations@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
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