Johannesburg, 21 February 2018 –  The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) welcomes the Government’s announced efforts to reduce its ballooning expenditure significantly and stabilise debt levels and considers these to be steps  in the right direction, the Federation’s Chief Economist Dr Michael Ade said today.

“These are welcome developments and targets to meet. If achieved, the 2018 budget may indicate a turning point for the domestic economy. It reflects major new expenditure commitments and corresponding reductions in line with new policy initiatives. However, the challenge is that the spending proposals reflect a trade-off between the country’s vast service-delivery needs and the need to manage Government’s finances sustainably and prudently,” Dr Ade said.

In what is considered to be a clear signal that the government is committed to fiscal consolidation, Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba announced an increase in value-added tax for the first time since 1993, lifting it from 14% to 15% from 1 April 2018. Dr Ade welcomed the initiative as a clear sign of the Government’s commitment to fiscal consolidation and its willingness to reduce the revenue shortfall.  He also welcomed the Government’s intention to increase collaboration with all law enforcement agencies to strengthen efforts to fight fraud, corruption and abuse of supply chain management (SCM) across all spheres of government in order to restore the integrity of SCM.

However, Dr Ade said that despite the Government’s concrete plans to significantly cut expenditure, Minister Gigaba’s speech lacked solid measures to improve domestic demand.

“Notwithstanding efforts aimed at supporting designation and localization, the Minister should have done more for local producers. In consideration of the hugely competitive international trade environment and increased protectionist policies taken by countries to protect their local industries, one of the best stimulatory measures within the Government’s control would have been to channel spending directly to local producers.

“This would directly ensure that there is increased capacity to produce imported inputs, thereby reducing the cost of production and directly boosting production. Once the supply side of the economy is directly taken care of, monetary policy can be used to stimulate the demand side, including consumer spending – and this would  ultimately lead to sustainable benefits for the domestic economy,” Dr Ade said..

He added that the budget was consistent with President Ramaphosa’s promise, during his maiden State-of-the-Nation Address, that tough decisions would be taken to close the fiscal gap, stabilize debt and restore State-owned companies to good health.

He said that it remained to be seen if the budget speech would be enough to satisfy international ratings agencies.

Dr Ade warned that the road ahead is still long and windy before a sustainable turnaround in the economy can be achieved, with public finances restored to good health. He said containing Government expenditure was necessary not only to satisfy ratings agencies or investors, but also to demonstrate Pretoria’s willingness to make the necessary sacrifices.

He said Minister Gigaba’s speech did not provide any clear signs of a shift in economic policy, but contained “the same dose of optimism that characterised President Ramaphosa’s State-of-the-Nation address”.

He expressed hope that the country had done enough to avoid further ratings downgrades.

“That would give us some breathing space to fold our sleeves and take on the arduous task of closing the fiscal gap, stabilize and improve our debt levels and restore State-owned companies to good health,” Dr Ade concluded.

Issued by:

Ollie Madlala

Communications Consultant

Tel: (011) 298 9411 / 082 602 1725

Email: ollie@seifsa.co.za

Web: www.seifsa.co.za

SEIFSA is a National Federation representing 23 independent employers. 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 formed in 1943 and its member companies range from giant steel-making corporations to micro-enterprises employing few than 50 people.

For 75 years, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) has represented the metals and engineering industries, provided active support for Employer Associations and lobbied for policies that have improved the business environment in which its members operate. This rich, 75-year legacy has been possible due to active support throughout the years from our members and their respective companies – and we remain deeply grateful for it.

To celebrate this significant milestone and to profile its proud legacy, SEIFSA will publish a 60-page glossy, high-quality 75^th Anniversary Special Magazine. To be called SEIFSA at 75, the magazine will map SEIFSA’s 75-year journey by highlighting the Federation’s most memorable events, including key milestones, past challenges and transformation of the Federation, among others.

SEIFSA at 75 will offer key insights into South Africa’s changing political environment, South Africa’s economic outlook, the outlook for the metals and engineering sector as well as the future of collective bargaining, and other external environmental factors that will have an impact on the metals and engineering sector.

To be sold to approximately 2 500 SEIFSA member companies and other interested parties, SEIFSA at 75 offers an opportunity to companies in the metals, engineering and related sectors (both SEIFSA members and non-members) and their suppliers to tell their stories, wish SEIFSA a happy 75^th birthday or advertise their product and service offerings by taking up advertising space at very competitive rates.

Following below is the proposed content:

Content:

• Introduction and purpose of SEIFSA at 75
• Foreword and Message from the SEIFSA CEO
• Message of Support from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Economic Development
• Message from SEIFSA President Michael Pimstein
• Message from Operations Director Lucio Trentini
• Interview with SEIFSA President Michael Pimstein
• Interview with SEIFSA’s first – and, to date, only – black President, Ufikile Kumalo
• Interview with SEIFSA’s first – and, to date, only – female President, Angela Dick
• Profiles of SEIFSA’s Divisions and their service/product offerings
• An interview with SEIFSA Associations Manager Theresa Crowley
• Messages from Chairpersons of Associations federated to SEIFSA, about their Associations and their history with SEIFSA
• Pictures of all SEIFSA staff members (Team SEIFSA), with names and positions occupied
• Group picture of the SEIFSA Board of Directors
• Comprehensive story of SEIFSA’s evolution from its birth in 1943 and, where possible, stories and pictures of the key past players:

The SEIFSA Journey

• The SEIFSA Journey from the beginning (including the need to establish SEIFSA)
• past challenges,
• the key milestones,
• past SEIFSA CEOs/Executive Directors and their legacies
• past SEIFSA Presidents and their legacies
• The transformation journey
• The birth of the Southern African Metals and Engineering Indaba and the SEIFSA Awards for Excellence
• The Journey-ahead interviews with:
• CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba on changes taking place on the political front and their impact on the environment that SEIFSA members operate in;
• Chief Economist Dr Michael Ade on South Africa’s economic outlook, the outlook for the metals and engineering sector and the way forward;
• Operations Director Lucio Trentini on the future of collective bargaining, trade unions;
• Human Capital and Skills Development Executive Melanie Mulholland on the SEIFSA Bursary Scheme and the;
• The SEIFSA Training Centre (the need to establish the STC, the number of graduates it has produced and interview/s with one or two now successfully-employed graduates
• The CSI initiatives (profile the SEIFSA Bursary Scheme, mention the number of people whose tertiary (university or technikon) studies were funded or co-funded by SEIFSA and interview some of the more successful SEIFSA Bursary recipients)

I hereby invite you, as a company or organisation with a keen interest in the welfare of the metals and engineering sector in particular and manufacturing in general, to help us celebrate our 75-year legacy by advertising in this special publication, which will reach thousands of your current and potential customers.

To be published between May and June 2018, the publication will have a minimum shelf life of six to seven months during the course of the year.

The glossy, high-profile SEIFSA at 75 magazine offers a limited number of advertisers an opportunity to gain exposure to an affluent and influential audience, thus improving awareness levels. Don’t miss the opportunity to be one of the advertisers.

Don’t miss out on being among the limited number of advertisers in SEIFSA at 75. Book your ad now by calling or e-mailing Kristen Botha on (011) 298-9455 or Kristen@seifsa.co.za.

Please find attached the relevant advertising rates and deadlines. I look forward to seeing your ad in our glossy, high-profile SEIFSA at 75 magazine.

Yours Sincerely

Kaizer M. Nyatsumba

Chief Executive Officer

Johannesburg, 19 February 2018 – The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) is extremely concerned that the quandary of the local steel industry will continue to worsen in 2018, if the U.S Commerce Department’s recommendation for a tariff of at least 53% on all steel imports from 12 countries – including South Africa – is accepted, SEIFSA Chief Economist Dr Michael Ade said today.

The US’s Department of Commerce recommended the imposition of the tariff rate on all imported steel products from Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Malaysia, Russia, South Korea, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam, in addition to any anti-dumping or countervailing duty collections applicable to any steel products from those countries. All other countries would be limited to 100 percent of their 2017 import level.

According to the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) Model, produced by Purdue University, a 53% tariff on all steel imports from the aforementioned countries would be expected to reduce imports by 13.3 million metric tons from 2017 import levels from the targeted countries. This action would enable an increase in domestic production in the U.S. to achieve an 80% capacity utilisation rate at 2017 demand levels (including exports). The countries identified are projected to account for less than 4% of American steel imports in 2017.

In January this year, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced an affirmative final determination in the anti-dumping duty (AD) investigations of imports of carbon and alloy steel wire rod from South Africa and Ukraine. This followed parallel investigations launched in October 2017 by both the U.S Department of Commerce and the U.S International Trade Commission (ITC) to determine if American producers had been harmed by carbon and alloy steel wire rod imports from Italy, the Republic of Korea, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and/or the United Kingdom.

For the South African investigations, the U.S Department of Commerce assigned a dumping rate of 142.26 percent for the entity composed of ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited, Scaw South Africa (PTY) Ltd (also known as Scaw Metals Group) and Consolidated Wire Industries, based on adverse facts available due to these companies’ alleged failure to respond to the Department’s requests for information.

The ITC is scheduled to make its final determination on or about 22 February 2018. If the ITC makes an affirmative final determination that imports of carbon and alloy steel wire rod from South Africa and/or Ukraine materially injure, or threaten material injury to the domestic industry, the US Department of Commerce will issue anti-dumping orders. Should the ITC make negative determinations of injury, the investigations will be terminated.

SEIFSA raised its concerns last year about the initial investigations and commented that it was just a tip of the iceberg, with the possibility of anti-dumping duties being extended to other domestic steel products. The Federation also highlighted the potential for retaliation from many overseas trading partners in order to protect their steel industries.

Dr Ade said although the initial indications were for possible tariff imposition on selected steel products from SA, it now appeared that the U.S Commerce Department was advocating for the imposition of a blanket tariff on all SA steel exports.

“This is really a matter of enormous concern to SEIFSA, since the latest developments have the potential of further dampening production in the local steel industry, reducing steel exports to the U.S, squeezing margins and depriving the steel industry of much-needed foreign reserves. Imports of Carbon and Alloy steel wire rod by the U.S from South Africa was valued at an estimated $7.1 million,” Dr Ade said.

He said this situation was further compounded by a low domestic growth scenario which did not augur well for local steel production. He said that for growth in apparent steel consumption to be sustainable, the overall economy’s GDP has to grow by at least 5% – and the South African economy has not grown at those levels since 2007.

Dr Ade said the high uncertainty in steel production and imported input cost, which was sensitive to exchange rate volatility, was of particular concern. He feared that widespread protectionism of steel products might lead to trade wars and further price spikes in the raw materials used in everything from autos manufacturing to household appliances and construction. Of particular concern has been the high uncertainty in steel production and imported inputs cost, which is sensitive to exchange rate volatility.

“The recent developments in the U.S are of grave concern to SEIFSA, given the strategic importance of the local steel industry. SEIFSA supports any collective initiative aimed at addressing the situation and lessening the effects of a final decision by the U.S Department of Commerce on SA steel producers,” concluded Dr Ade.

SEIFSA Chief Executive Officer Kaizer Nyatsumba said although the Federation also called for the imposition of tarrifs on some foreign imports into South Africa, it did so only when it believed there was unfair competition as a result of manufacturing subsidies and export incentives, as is the case with some Asian imports.

Mr Nyatsumba called on the Department of Trade and Industry speedily to engage its US counterpart in a discussion in an effort to resolve this matter.

Issued by:

Ollie Madlala

Communications Consultant

Tel: (011) 298 9411 / 082 602 1725

Email: ollie@seifsa.co.za

Web: www.seifsa.co.za

SEIFSA is a National Federation representing 23 independent employers. 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 formed in 1943 and its member companies range from giant steel-making corporations to micro-enterprises employing few than 50 people.

Johannesburg, 19 February 2018 – There is no doubt that innovation has an enormous role to play in economic development. Not only does it contribute towards producing goods and services more efficiently, but it also contributes towards employment creation and poverty reduction.

Unlike its emerging-market counterparts, South Africa lags behind when it comes to innovative economic growth. That is why there is an urgent need to harness South Africa’s untapped potential for innovation and ultimately create the desperately-needed employment opportunities for South Africa’s unemployed millions.

“It is for this reason, among others, that the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) established the SEIFSA Awards for Excellence to encourage innovation and growth and to celebrate excellence in the metals and engineering sector,” SEIFSA Chief Executive Officer Kaizer Nyatsumba said today.

“In such volatile economic times and a challenging business environment, we at SEIFSA believe that companies operating in the manufacturing sector in general and the metals and engineering sector in particular should invest in innovative technological advancements if they are to compete successfully with international players.

We also believe that it is of critical importance that companies that excel at what they do get the acknowledgement and recognition they deserve. This is another reason we established the SEIFSA Awards for Excellence,” Mr Nyatsumba said.

SEIFSA Awards entrants will be assessed on their performance in the period January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 in seven different categories, namely:

• The Most Innovative Company of the Year, which will be awarded to a company that showed the best level of innovation in research and development or production in 2017;
• The Health and Safety Award of the Year will be offered to a company with the best legal compliance record in Health and Safety or the lowest Lost-Time Injury Frequency rate in 2017;
• Entries are also invited from companies whose Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme/s in 2017 had a major impact on the lives of their beneficiaries;
• The company rated the highest in customer service performance in 2017 will receive the Customer Service Award of the Year;
• The Most Transformed Company of the Year Award will be received by a company that showed the highest transformation level in the composition of its Board of Directors, Executive Management and Managerial Team in 2017 (this award category pits companies employing fewer than 100 people against those of similar size, and companies employing more than 100 companies against others of similar size);
• This is the Decade of the Artisan, and an award will be made to the company that trained the highest number of artisans in 2017;
• The Environment Stewardship Award will go to a company that has successfully implemented greening initiatives in its day-to-day business operations in 2017.

Mr Nyatsumba encouraged manufacturers operating in the metals and engineering sector to submit their entries for the seven categories before the deadline date of 29 March 2019. Participants can enter by visiting the SEIFSA awards website (awards.seifsa.co.za).

Winners of the Awards will be honoured at a ceremony that will take place at the IDC Conference Centre in Sandton on 24 May 2018.

Issued by:
Ollie Madlala
Communications Consultant
Tel: (011) 298 9411 / 082 602 1725
Email: ollie@seifsa.co.za
Web: www.seifsa.co.za

SEIFSA is a National Federation representing 23 independent employers. 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 formed in 1943 and its member companies range from giant steel-making corporations to microenterprises employing few than 50 people.

JOHANNESBURG, 17 FEBRUARY 2018 – President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inaugural State-of-the-National Address last night was a clear indication that South Africa is on the verge of turning the corner and re-embracing the values that made the country internationally respected under the leadership of former president Nelson Mandela, Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) Chief Executive Officer Kaizer Nyatsumba said today.

He said the Federation welcomed not only the inspirational, inclusive leadership demonstrated by President Ramaphosa during his speech last night, but especially the fact that he had sent a very clear message that he would do everything possible to reduce the size of our bloated Cabinet, vigorously fight the scourge of corruption and work with all stakeholders to grow the country’s economy.Mr Nyatsumba expressed the hope that President Ramaphosa would mobilise his colleagues within both the Government and the African National Congress to ensure that the impressive commitments that he outlined in Parliament on Friday evening were delivered upon expeditiously.

“When former president Jacob Zuma announced his Cabinet after the 2014 general elections, SEIFSA was the first to raise serious concerns about the bloated size of his Cabinet. While our concern at the time was the fact that Zuma’s Cabinet was one of the largest in the world, we subsequently came to know that a significant percentage of those appointed Ministers and Deputy Ministers then were pliable individuals whose competence and integrity was seriously questionable.

“We welcome President Ramaphosa’s commitments to reduce the size of his Cabinet, to fight corruption fearlessly, to appoint men and women of integrity into key positions in the public sector and, more importantly, to work in partnership with business and labour to revive manufacturing and to grow the economy,” Mr Nyatsumba said.

He added that, during his speech, President Ramaphosa had demonstrated inspirational, unifying leadership of the kind that South Africa has sorely lacked over the past few years.

“After years of increasingly being an international laughing stock, once again it felt good to be a South African on Friday evening,” said Mr Nyatsumba. He urged President Ramaphosa and his Cabinet to spare no effort in their work to reposition South Africa in the international community from yet another typical African country to a desirable, well-led, corruption-free country that would be an attractive investment destination.

Mr Nyatsumba said SEIFSA looked forward to working with the Ramaphosa government to change the fortunes of both the metals and engineering sector in particular and manufacturing in general.

Issued by:
Ollie Madlala
Communications Consultant
Tel: (011) 298 9411 / 082 602 1725
Email: ollie@seifsa.co.za
Web: www.seifsa.co.za

SEIFSA is a National Federation representing 23 independent employers. 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 formed in 1943 and its member companies range from giant steel-making corporations to micro-enterprises employing few than 50 people.

Johannesburg, 15 February 2018 – The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) welcomes the eventual resignation of former president Jacob Zuma last night and congratulates the ANC leadership for the  decisive steps that it finally took this week to precipitate Mr Zuma’s resignation, SEIFSA Chief Executive Officer Kaizer Nyatsumba said this morning.

Mr Nyatsumba said that under the Zuma administration, the South African economy was terribly stunted and bled thousands of jobs across many sectors, corruption became pervasive and the country suffered multiple sovereign credit ratings downgrades.

Mr Nyatsumba congratulated the ANC leadership for its eventual decisive handling of the impasse surrounding Mr Zuma this week, and said the ongoing stalemate was not in the country’s best interest.

He said that SEIFSA stood ready to work with the new leadership of the country – with current Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa likely to be at the helm – and other stakeholders to arrest South Africa’s economic and moral decline and to place the country on a new growth trajectory. He said that it would be paramount for the new leadership to take bold steps to ensure that all those alleged to have been involved in corruption are removed from their cushy positions, arrested and prosecuted.

“Mr Ramaphosa and his colleagues face considerable challenges ahead to rid the Government and the public sector of a deeply-entrenched culture of indolence, entitlement and corruption, and to replace these ills with a new culture of hard work and conscientious public service. They have a very important responsibility to reach out meaningfully to the business and labour constituencies and to work with them as indispensable partners for economic growth.

“Like many other business representatives, SEIFSA stands ready to work with Mr Ramaphosa and his team in the best interests of South Africa Incorporated. We look forward to a meeting with them as soon as possible,” Mr Nyatsumba said.

He said that, once elected the new President of South Africa, Mr Ramaphosa would have to:

• Remove from the current Cabinet those arrogant and inefficient Ministers alleged to have been part of the State Capture project or to have been involved in other forms of corruption and malfeasance;
• Reduce the size of the currently-bloated Cabinet and appoint only capable men and women of integrity who will understand that their primary responsibility is to serve the people of South Africa, and not their friends or political masters; and
• Review the Boards of all State-owned companies and ensure that only experienced and suitably-qualified men and women of integrity, with a solid understanding of corporate governance and who can add real value, are appointed onto those Boards of Directors.

Mr Nyatsumba expressed confidence that, unlike his predecessor who was woefully out of his depth in the role, President Ramaphosa – who has combined experience and expertise in labour, business and government and a firm grasp of how the economy works – will know and appreciate the simple facts that it is business that creates jobs, and not governments, and that South Africa is involved in a never-ending competition for foreign investment with many other countries around the world.

“We call on Mr Ramaphosa and his Government to take decisive steps to build business confidence, thereby clearing the way for investment in the economy, job creation and inclusive economic growth.

“We also call on him to move with speed to restore South Africa’s battered image abroad and to make South Africa the kind of country of which our founding father, Nelson Mandela, would have been proud,” said Nyatsumba.

Issued by:

Ollie Madlala

Communications Consultant

Tel: (011) 298 9411 / 082 602 1725

Email: ollie@seifsa.co.za

Web: www.seifsa.co.za

SEIFSA is a National Federation representing 23 independent employers. 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 formed in 1943 and its member companies range from giant steel-making corporations to micro-enterprises employing few than 50 people.

JOHANNESBURG, 13 FEBRUARY 2017 – The employment data released today by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) – showing a mild slowdown in the unemployment rate, amidst slowly improving optimism in the broader economy – can be misleading when analysed comprehensively, Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) Chief Economist Michael Ade said today.

He said the household-based Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released by Stats SA showed that the unemployment rate slowed from 27.7% in quarter 3 of 2017 to 26.7% in quarter 4 of 2017, reflecting a slight improvement of 1.0 percentage point when quarter 4 of 2017 is compared to quarter 3 of 2017. On a year-on-year basis, the data show a slight increase in the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points.

Dr Ade said the manufacturing sector, which is inclusive of the Metals and Engineering (M&E) sub-sector, was one of three sectors which recorded employment gains. It recorded an increase of 42 000 jobs during the quarter and 63 000 jobs in the year, representing 2.4% and 3.7% quarter-to-quarter and year-on-year changes respectively. A modest improvement in the employment numbers of industrial production was recorded.

On a quarter-to-quarter basis, industrial production recorded a net gain of 3000 jobs, followed by an impressive year-on-year net gain of 71 000 jobs.

Dr Ade said lthough construction employment had performed poorly on a year-on-year basis, the sector had recorded an increase in employment of 26 000 jobs in quarter 4 when compared to quarter 3 of 2017, highlighting the seasonal effect and up-tick in employment, driven by a slight increase in construction works.

He said a nuance of the aggregate data showed a corresponding increase in economically inactive job seekers both on a quarter-to-quarter basis and on a year-on-year basis, with the data also revealing that the working-age population grew by 152 000 or 0.4 percent, while the labour force congruently declined by 351 000 persons.

“This means that there is basically a re-allocation from the unemployment cue to the despondent cue. On a year-on-year basis, the total number of economically inactive individuals increased by 419 000, representing a 2.8% change. In this mix, the portion of discouraged work seekers (246 000) outweighs the number of other economically inactive (173 000) individuals.

“This is a cause for concern and a need still exists to continuously analyse the underlying unemployment dynamics with the aim of seeking a workable solution,” said Dr Ade.

He said while it was clear that challenges which inhibited the economy from absorbing the increasing numbers of unemployed still persisted, compounded by both seasonal and cyclical unemployment, there was an urgent need to address issues relating to structural unemployment and skills mis-match between available jobs and skill levels in the country.

Dr Ade said the slight gains in employment recorded in most industrial sectors were expected to be reversed in the first quarter of 2018 since most job opportunities during the festive period were seasonal.

“This places more emphasis on the need to continuously improve on business confidence and sentiments and simultaneously boost consumer spending aimed at expanding the domestic economy. The potential benefit will trigger new investments into industrial sectors with the potential of creating new sustainable jobs across all industrial sectors,” Dr Ade said.

Issued by:
Ollie Madlala
Communications Consultant
Tel: (011) 298 9411 / 082 602 1725
Email: ollie@seifsa.co.za
Web: www.seifsa.co.za

SEIFSA is a National Federation representing 23 independent employers. 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 formed in 1943 and its member companies range from giant steel-making corporations to micro-enterprises employing few than 50 people.

Johannesburg, 11 February 2018 – The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) invites manufacturers operating in the metals and engineering sector to submit their entries for the 2018 SEIFSA Awards for Excellence – which are open to all companies in the sector, including those which are not members of SEIFSA.

Born out of the need to encourage growth and celebrate excellence in the metals and engineering sector, the SEIFSA Awards for Excellence offer a great opportunity for companies operating in this vital sector to receive well-deserved recognition by industry peers for their capabilities, expertise and innovation.

“In such volatile economic times and a challenging business environment, we at SEIFSA believe that it is critically important for those companies that excel at what they do to get the acknowledgement and recognition they deserve,” SEIFSA Chief Executive Officer Kaizer Nyatsumba said.

Entrants will be assessed on their performance in the period January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 in seven different categories, namely:

• The Most Innovative Company of the Year, which will be awarded to a company that showed the best level of innovation in research and development or production in 2017;
• The Health and Safety Award of the Year will be offered to a company with the best legal compliance record in Health and Safety or the lowest Lost-Time Injury Frequency rate in 2017;
• Entries are also invited from companies whose Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme/s in 2017 had a major impact on the lives of their beneficiaries;
• The company rated the highest in customer service performance in 2017 will receive the Customer Service Award of the Year;
• The Most Transformed Company of the Year Award will be received by a company that showed the highest transformation level in the composition of its Board of Directors, Executive Management and Managerial Team in 2017 (this award category pits companies employing fewer than 100 people against those of similar size, and companies employing more than 100 companies against others of similar size);
• This is the Decade of the Artisan, and an award will be made to the company that trained the highest number of artisans in 2017;
• The Environment Stewardship Award will go to a company that has successfully implemented greening initiatives in its day-to-day business operations in 2017.

Mr Nyatsumba encouraged manufacturers operating in the metals and engineering sector to take advantage of the opportunities for recognition offered by the SEIFSA Awards for Excellence and submit their entries for the seven categories before the deadline date of 20 April 2018. Participants can enter by visiting the SEIFSA awards website (www.seifsaawards.co.za).

Winners of the Awards will be honored at a ceremony that will take place at the IDC  Conference Centre in Sandton on 24 May 2018.

Please note that the closing date for entries is 20 April 2018.

Issued by:

Ollie Madlala

Communications Consultant

Tel: (011) 298 9411 / 082 602 1725

Email: ollie@seifsa.co.za

Web: www.seifsa.co.za

SEIFSA is a National Federation representing 23 independent employers. 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 formed in 1943 and its member companies range from giant steel-making corporations to micro-enterprises employing few than 50 people.

Siya Biniza (Political Economy
Southern Africa – PESA)

Siya is a Political Economist specialising in Development Finance, Industrial Development, and Regional Integration. He has an insightful understanding of the political economy of development, entrepreneurship, and public affairs for corporations and social formations. His particular interest is advocating for regional integration as the solution to slow economic growth and exposure to global finance in South Africa, driven by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Integration Strategy and Roadmap.

Siya holds an M.Com and a B.Com (Hon.) in Development Theory and Policy from the University of the Witwatersrand. He also holds a B.Soc.Sci in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Cape Town.

Professor Patrick Bond 
(Wits School of Governance)

Patrick Bond is Professor of political economy at the Wits School of Governance and from 2004-16, directed the University of KwaZulu-Natal Centre for Civil Society. His PhD studies were at Johns Hopkins University (1985-93) under the supervision of David Harvey, and he also studied at Swarthmore College, the Peabody Conservatory and the University of Pennsylvania. He has lived in Southern Africa since 1989, and was editor/author of more than a dozen policy papers in the Mandela government.

His books include BRICS (edited with Ana Garcia, 2015), Elite Transition (2014), South Africa – The Present as History (with John Saul, 2014), Politics of Climate Justice (2012), Durban’s Climate Gamble (2011) and a dozen others.

Charles Dednam (CD Research)

Charles is an Independent Strategist and Consultant with specific expertise in setting steel price policy and strategy, and managing and marketing in regards to steel price system and price tactics. With a B.Com (Hon.) in Communications and Economy from North-West University, Charles continued to gain more than thirty years of industry experience.

Beginning as an Economist for Arcelor Mittal, Charles advanced to Group Manager of Marketing, specializing in strategic consultation and business plan development. Drawing on profound industry knowledge, Charles set out to offer independent services, allowing him to embrace and extend his abilities to companies in the Mining and Metals Industry. Highly regarded for his ability to optimize marketing functions on an international level, Charles consistently enhances his reputation as he builds sustainable relationships with industry partners around the globe.

Charles is affiliated with the South African Institute of Steel Construction, the South African Iron and Steel Institute, the International Iron and Steel Institute, the Steel Pipe and Tube Association and the Wire Association of South Africa.