JOHANNESBURG, 8 MARCH 2021 – The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) is calling on companies in the Metals and Engineering (M&E) sector to submit their entries for the Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Programme of the Year category in the 2021 SEIFSA Awards for Excellence.

Now in their seventh year, the SEIFSA Awards for Excellence aim to promote and reward innovation and excellence in the M&E sector.  They are open both to members and non-members of SEIFSA.

The CSI Award will be presented to a company whose corporate social investment programmes between July 2019 and December 2020 had a major impact on the lives of its beneficiaries.

SEIFSA CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba said he was looking forward to this year’s entries as the COVID-19 pandemic, which has cost both lives and livelihoods, had resulted in many companies stepping up and going the extra mile to look after their employees and their communities.

“Being a responsible corporate citizen is no longer a nice to have. It has become the norm for businesses to ensure that their bottom lines also benefit their communities. While we understand this fact, we also believe that we should celebrate those who make impact, and we do that through our SEIFSA Awards for Excellence,” Mr Nyatsumba said.

He said COVID-19 had highlighted the importance of CSI.

“The pandemic amplified South Africa’s sense of community and ubuntu, and we want to celebrate those companies that rose to the challenge of the pandemic to ensure that they protected as many lives as possible,” Mr Nyatsumba said.

Last year’s Award went to BEKA Schréder, whose CSI programme had ensured that a community can go about its lives safely. The company had donated 160 LED streetlights to Chintsa East in the Eastern Cape, lighting up the streets so that women and children can walk around freely at night and children can play soccer under the streetlights.

Other categories in the Awards include:

  • The Most Innovative Company Award;
  • The Health and Safety Award;
  • The Customer Service Award;
  • The Environmental Stewardship Award;
  • The Artisan Award; and
  • The Most Transformed Company of the Year Award.

The closing date for entries is 4 May 2021, with the winners of the 2020 SEIFSA Awards for Excellence to be honoured at a ceremony to be held on 20 May 2021 at a venue yet to be confirmed.