Johannesburg, 5 May 2019 – THE 2019 SEIFSA Awards for Excellence have seen a record increase in the number of entries received, indicating their growing popularity and prestige, Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba said this morning.

Speaking after the Awards adjudication process, which took place yesterday (Thursday), Mr Nyatsumba said the increase in the number of entries submitted across the seven categories confirms that the SEIFSA Awards for Excellence have, indeed, grown in leaps and bounds over the years.

Born five years ago out of the need to encourage growth and celebrate excellence in the metals and engineering sector, the SEIFSA Awards for Excellence, through their seven categories, offer a wonderful opportunity for companies operating in the crucial metals and engineering sector to receive well-deserved acknowledgement and respect by industry peers for their capabilities, expertise and innovation.

This year, Mr Nyatsumba said the winner and the runner-up in the Most Innovative Company of the Year category will also get free entry tickets to attend the South African Innovation Summit, which will take place in Cape Town in September.

Meanwhile, Mr Nyatsumba also announced that Youth Employment Services (YES) CEO Tashmia Ismail-Saville will be the 2019 Guest Speaker at the event. A joint initiative between business, labour and government, YES was created to address South Africa’s youth unemployment challenge by creating one million work experiences in the country.

“The challenge of youth unemployment is a serious one and calls for Government, business and labour to work together to address it. It is for this reason that we have invited Ms Ismail-Saville to be the Guest Speaker at this year’s SEIFSA Awards for Excellence,” Mr Nyatsumba said.

Winners of the 2019 SEIFSA Awards for Excellence will be announced at a ceremony that will take place at the Sunnyside Park Hotel in Parktown, Johannesburg on 23 May 2019.

 

Issued by:

Ollie Madlala

Communications Manager

Tel: (011) 298 9411 / 082 602 1725

Email: ollie@seifsa.co.za

Web: www.meindaba. seifsa.co.za

 

SEIFSA is a National Federation representing 23 independent employer Associations in the metals and engineering industries, with a combined membership of 1600 companies employing around 200 000 employees. The Federation was formed in 1943 and its member companies range from giant steel-making corporations to micro-enterprises employing fewer than 50 people.