AFRICA NEWS
Woman-owned business to supply De Beers Venetia Mine with tyres, rims,
and batteries
of Musina and Blouberg, which
falls in line with the mine’s drive to
include local suppliers into its main
procurement activities. The selection
process targets local historically
disadvantaged South Africans such
as persons living with disabilities,
youth, and women-owned SMMEs
to ensure a lasting impact where it is
needed most.
Gregory Petersen, senior
commercial manager – ESD at
Venetia Mine, said: “At De Beers
we believe that partnerships and
collaboration with key suppliers
and service providers is one of the
ways that can be explored to jointly
address the development of the
business and technical skills of our
local small businesses. We are proud
of our relationship with key industry
players like Bridgestone and Global
Wheel and their willingness to take
smaller businesses under their wing
De Beers Venetia Mine’s Local
Procurement and integrated
Enterprise and Supplier Development
(ESD) programme continues to
empower local communities through
strategic partners, which aim to
assist local businesses achieve long-
term sustainability and contribute
towards the socio-economic
development of Limpopo.
Partnering with leading tyre
manufacturers Bridgestone South
Africa and Global Wheel, De Beers
facilitated a five-year contract for
a woman-owned small, medium
and micro-sized enterprise (SMME)
from Musina, Chibadura Trading, to
become the local distributor for light-
duty vehicles (LDV) tyres, rims, and
batteries for Venetia Mine.
Chibadura Trading was selected
following an extensive expression
of interest process throughout
Venetia Mine’s labour sending areas
Nkateko Sithole, managing director of Chibadura Trading.
6
MARCH 2019
and help them grow. These types
of partnerships will help us to
achieve our objectives of socio-
economic growth within our local
communities. We encourage all
contractors, employees, and the
broader community to support
Chibadura Trading.”
Nkateko Leoneldah Sithole,
director of Chibadura Trading,
said: “We are very grateful for
the opportunity to become one
of Venetia Mine’s suppliers. The
partnership with Bridgestone
SA and Global Wheel will allow
us to provide a sustainable
and professional service to the
mine and the broader Musina
community. We are thankful
and very committed to staying
passionate and focused on
obtaining the goals set for
the business, listening to our
customers’ needs, and providing
them with quality service.”
As part of the partnership,
Bridgestone and Global Wheel
have provided technical training to
Chibadura employees and will also
offer after-sales support for the
duration of the contract.
Joyce Kayombo, executive sales
manager at Global Wheel, said:
“We are a leading manufacturing
company of steel rims, for trucks
and trailers working in the mining,
construction, commercial, and
agricultural industries. Global
Wheel supplies De Beers with rims
and as part of our commitment,
we indirectly assist the local
communities. This partnership is an
opportunity to bring change where
it is needed most and provide
enterprise development support
and offer technical rim training.
Our relationship with Chibadura
does not only include the supply of
rims, but also equates to training,
ongoing business support, and
assistance with the management
of rims going forward.”
De Beers’ ESD programme also
provides local SMMEs, both within
and outside Venetia Mine’s supply
chain, with business advisory and
mentorship support, business skills
training, training to support access
to markets, as well as access to
funding.
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