Congratulations go out to the Illovo Sugar South Africa Team for achieving the highest score possible of Level 1 in the recent external and independent audit to verify the company's Broad–Based Black Economic Empowerment credentials. Together with Gledhow Sugar Company, in which Illovo Sugar SA has a 30% share, this brings to only two the number of locally-based sugar milling companies ranked at the B-BBEE Level 1. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Illovo Sugar Africa, a Pan-African consumer business with its roots in growing and making sugar and related products.
Mamongae Mahlare, Managing Director of Illovo Sugar South Africa said that it was important for the sugar industry to play its role in the transformation of its own agricultural and milling sectors, and the economy in general. “While B-BBEE has become a legal imperative for South African companies, we believe transformation is necessary for redressing the past economic marginalisation and that in order to the grow economy – and to contribute to the long-term sustainability of both Illovo Sugar South Africa and the sugar industry in general - we need meaningful participation of all its citizens,” said Ms Mahlare.
The verification audit was conducted by Empowerdex - South-Africa’s first BEE verifications agency which pioneered the empowerment verification methodology and was actively involved in the drafting of the Codes of Good Practice. Empowerdex is a Level Two BEE contributor, a founding member of the Association of BEE Professionals and is registered with the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors.