As we reflect on a year rapidly coming to an end, it is clear that for the average South African, 2022 has once again been plagued with challenges and hardships. We have experienced the worst load shedding that this country has ever seen. Several provinces have had to cope with water restrictions, interest rates have spiked, and let’s not discuss the soaring cost of living, all while unemployment rates run out of control.
Reflecting on the above, it is easy to fall into a pit of despair. Stop! Don’t forget our brave and talented woman’s football team, overcoming all challenges to win the Women’s African Cup of Nations tournament for the first time.
Whilst the woman’s football team is only one good news story amongst many, it is, however, germane, as it provides an insight into the importance for government, business, and good citizens to provide resources and development opportunities. Essentially, we need to create the foundation on which the people of this wonderful country can build and grow.
The above begs the question of this article, have we, as ACTOM, done enough to develop our employees and the communities within which we operate?
As the largest manufacturer, solution provider, repairer, maintainer, and distributor of electro-mechanical equipment in Africa, ACTOM is firmly committed to the goals enshrined in South Africa’s Constitution. As such committed to significantly contributing to uplifting the socio-economic conditions of the communities within which we operate.
Regarding the above, we cannot say that we have done enough; however, we are proud of the strides we have made in ensuring our certification as a level 1 B-BBEE company with 59.65% black and 35.63% black women ownership.
Our determination to be truly representative of the communities within which we operate is also supported by a philosophy of equal opportunity. To this end, we have also adopted a multifaceted and diversified approach to training and development, from grassroots programs to developing softer entrepreneurial skills and technical internship programs, amongst other initiatives.
At grassroots level: ACTOM has become actively involved in developing local communities within which we operate through the adopt a school program. Sylvester Makamu, HR Executive, ACTOM, says: “We are always looking at making a difference in our community. We are proud to form part in educating the future with our programs in Balmoral College, and Sizwe Secondary School.”
Following on from the grassroots level, our focus shifts to developing softer entrepreneurial skills. Mervyn Naidoo, ACTOM Chief Executive, is that training is fundamental in creating an environment where the unemployed can become productive members of society and economically active. “If you train the unemployed, they can create a living for themselves.” “On any day, there is a blocked drain, a broken toilet, or some other maintenance issue somewhere in our factories, talent lurks everywhere; we just need to look for it”, Naidoo added. Our thinking is to give the unemployed basic skills that can feed into the ACTOM Enterprise Initiative, where we develop people to become entrepreneurs, with whom we can contract to maintain our properties. Naidoo said, “we can then encourage our peers and competitors to use, and assist, in growing these smaller companies”, the consequence of which could have a multiplier effect”.
Completing the cycle, the group also operates three technical-certified apprenticeship training centres. Namely:
- The Technical Training Centre at Knights, Germiston, provides apprenticeship training for electricians, fitters, turners, tool jig & die-makers, welders, and armature winders.
- John Thompson’s technical training centres at Bellville, Western Cape, and Isando, Johannesburg, provide apprentice welders and boilermakers training.
- LH Marthinusen’s technical training centre at Denver, Johannesburg, provides apprenticeship training for armature winders. The LH Marthinussen School of Engineering and Maintenance is also the first to offer independent technical facilities to train artisans in electro-mechanical winding. The training centre is accredited by the Department of Education & Training and the National Artisan Moderating Body as a trade test centre.
David Sullivan, Divisional Chief Executive, LH Marthinusen, stated, “We have also found that many of our customers have young engineers or technicians who have passed the theoretical training programmes but have never seen the inside of a motor or transformer. To this end, we have tailor-made practical courses utilising internal and external facilitators”.
In closing, ACTOM is, and always will be, in search of talent and creative solutions to further develop and create opportunities for our employees. The short answer to the original question is that enough can never be enough, considering the poverty level that plagues our country’s economic growth and stability.
