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DLM is committed to real empowerment within our own environment as well as in the wider community and we are therefore very proud to have achieved an overall BBBEE rating of 72.5 Points using the generic scorecard. This qualifies us as a Level 4 BEE Contributor. To View our BEE Certificate, Click Here.
Our rating has been gained through the implementation of our stated policy to pursue and achieve, over a period of time, the following:
· Empowerment shareholding and management
· A staff composition that closer reflects the broader composition of society
· The continual growth of our people by developing their potential through training and skills development as well as career pathing and mentoring
· Procurement practices that assist in reaching empowerment objectives
· The development of sustainable black enterprises
· Social upliftment through involvement in projects to help the unemployed gain skills, education initiatives, etc.
We are proud to report on our achievements to date:-
EMPOWERMENT SHAREHOLDING AND MANAGEMENT
· We entered into an empowerment shareholding deal with Mpande Energy Investments (Pty) Ltd
whereby they acquired 25,1% of DLM and Mr. Humphrey Khoza (Chairman of Mpande) was appointed
as the Chairman of our Board of Directors. Tragically, Humphrey passed away in a
motor vehicle accident and this, as well as other factors, resulted in this 25,1% reverting to the
original shareholders. We are currently seeking a new Empowerment partner.
· DLM has one disabled executive director, one female executive director, two black Exco members and two female Exco members.
We are aware that many companies have resorted to placing unsuitable or unqualified black personnel in senior positions simply to achieve empowerment points. We firmly believe that this is counter productive and will not achieve the objectives of the BBBEE programme. We have put a mentoring programme in place in order to fast track the progress of black employees and to ensure that our people are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge before they are promoted into senior and managerial positions.
Successes to date include:
Our Technical Manager joined as a senior technician. He gained experience in our Projects Division before being promoted to his current position. He has also joined the Executive Committee of DLM.
The Manager of our Kwazulu Natal Service Division joined us as a technician. Through training and experience he gained the necessary knowledge and was promoted to the position of Service Manager.
A notable success is the Workshop Manager of our steam and safety and reducing valve section in Johannesburg. He was employed as a driver, joined the workshop staff, was trained and then promoted to Assistant Workshop Manager, was transferred to internal sales in order to gain sales experience and was then promoted to his present position.
One of our tea ladies joined our ABET programme and after successfully completing the first three Literacy and Numeracy modules was promoted to the position of Stores Administration Clerk. She has since successfully completed Level 4 Literacy and is currently enrolled in the Level 4 Numeracy module.
Others include our Receptionist being promoted to a Girl Friday position, and a temporary Girl Friday joining permanent staff and currently being trained as a Terminal Management Systems support technician.
EMPLOYMENT EQUITY
All employment decisions, company programmes and personnel actions are administered in conjunction with DLM’s equal employment and diversity goals, and our Employment Equity Plan
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
DLM has a Skills Development Committee which is representative of all race and gender groups and is headed up by a black female Skills Development Facilitator. A formal Skills Development Plan has been drawn up and is being adhered to.
· As part of our Skills Development Plan an ongoing Basic English, Mathematics and Computer Skills course has been introduced. Ten of our staff members, all from previously disadvantaged groups, have enrolled on this course and attend lessons for four hours every week.
· An ongoing in-house training programme for all levels of permanent staff has been implemented.
· Employees are encouraged to continually improve their educational qualifications and skills by enrolling in suitable courses at outside educational establishments. DLM funds these courses.
· We always attempt to fill temporary positions with inexperienced historically disadvantaged people which experience, we believe, will afford them a better opportunity of gaining permanent future employment. As an example, the daughter of one of our stores personnel gained experience as a Girl Friday whilst one of our permanent employees was on maternity leave. She has subsequently joined our permanent staff.
· All sales personnel attend an external Professional Selling Skills course.
PREFERENTIAL PROCUREMENT
DLM is an import trading company and products are sourced from overseas suppliers where there is no equal local alternative.
For all other goods and services that can be sourced locally, DLM has committed itself to make use of BEE companies wherever possible. Local BEE suppliers are identified and appointed as preferential suppliers.
ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
Our aim is to locate small black owned companies or develop new ones and then to assist them to become self-sufficient and profitable enterprises capable of offering employment opportunities to others, thereby creating ever expanding base of job providers and reducing unemployment in South Africa. We are continuously looking for qualifying entities that can benefit from this initiative in the form of training and mentoring and other means of developing small enterprises
· An Enterprise Development venture has been set up with one of our black employees. He has left our employ, opened a 100% black owned company and employed in excess of 20 black staff members. DLM has assisted him in the set up of his company and has agreed to grant his company sole supplier rights to certain customers.
· A Black Woman Owned company has been identified and is being assisted in its endeavour to become a reputable supplier, as well as a repair service and support organisation. They have been appointed as suppliers of DLM products, and we are providing training and mentoring of their staff. The aim is to ensure that they become a sustainable company, ultimately enjoying financial and operational independence. They have four black shareholders who are also the directors and employees of the company.
· A Positive Start, is a 50% black woman owned registered company, which offers mind power courses aimed at increasing confidence and coping skills in children through fun games, stories, and songs. The course proves to children the power of positive thinking, affirmation and visualization. DLM is assisting the company with their promotional material such as stationery, business cards for the two members, setting up a website etc.
CORPORATE SOCIAL INVESTMENT
We are firm believers in the parable that “it is better to teach a man to fish rather than to give him a fish”. Various self help projects such as one to give tools, instruction and training in how to make saleable products are constantly sought, evaluated and supported if they meet our criteria.
· We sponsored the Thembinkosis’ candle making project by purchasing materials and equipment for candle-making thereby enabling the learners to produce arts and crafts which will be sold. Thembinkosi School provides education to mentally handicapped learners teaching occupational and everyday living skills.
· Children from the Dominican School for the Deaf received a donation of sewing machines, overlockers and sewing materials to start a sewing project therefore learning income generating skills.
· The Kerusso Bible Mission is situated in the New Eersterus Settlement in Hammanskraal. Besides meeting the spiritual and physical needs of the community, the church also address socio-economic needs of the community. The church runs a number of projects which aim at empowering the community with skills and means by which they can sustain themselves. DLM sponsors the sewing project in which a group of women make school uniforms for school children around the community who are poor. This has taught women skills that they can use to earn a living. Another Kerusso project that DLM sponsors is the Poultry Project which also provides income for the members of the community who are unemployed. The church also runs school feeding programmes, shoe making projects, farming projects and others.
· DLM has “adopted” the Phomolong Orphanage Home which is situated in Tembisa. We decided that simply handing over money was not a good idea so we now deliver food supplies on a monthly basis. Further, our staff members are encouraged to donate clothing, toys and educational items which are delivered along with the groceries. Recently we looked into their safety compliance requirements and have purchased a fire extinguisher and First Aid Kit.
We also believe that it is necessary for children to have the opportunity to play.
· We sponsor underprivileged black children from Alexandra which enables them to play for the Sandton Park Football Club in Johannesburg. Our support includes soccer kit as well as financial assistance for club registration and transport costs. We are very proud of the fact that two of “our” youngsters have been selected to join the team touring to Manchester, England to take part in the Umbro International Cup – the largest International Youth Soccer Tournament to be held in Britain. In 2006 400 teams from 20 nations entered and this year, through hard work and determination, the boys have won themselves the opportunity to attend.
· We have also provided support in the form of soccer kit, balls, training aids and prizes for the very worthwhile and deserving African Bucks Football club in East London
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