Private healthcare group, Netcare, was once again recognised for its empowerment and transformation leadership at the Oliver Empowerment Awards held in Sandton on Friday evening, 26 April 2013. The group won the award for Socially Responsible Investment and was a finalist in the Africa’s Transformation and Skills Development categories. The ceremony was attended by business and government leaders.
Netcare also maintained its position as the transformation leader in the healthcare sector when it was recently ranked top in the sector, and 27th overall, in the 2013 Mail & Guardian survey on the Most Empowered Companies on the JSE. Netcare achieved an impressive 82.11 BBBEE score out of 100 and a level 3 BBBEE rating. The group furthermore ranked in the top 10 JSE listed companies with regard to skills development. Prior to 2013 the survey was published by Financial Mail. Empowerdex conducted the research on JSE-listed companies in each sector to determine which have done best overall on the various key empowerment pillars: from ownership to enterprise development.
“I am humbled and overwhelmed to accept this award on behalf of the Netcare family,” said Netcare’s communications director, Kerishnie Naiker on receiving the Oliver Empowerment Award for Socially Responsible Investment. She dedicated the award to the staff, management and doctors of Netcare who passionately participated in initiatives undertaken by their local operations and national programmes of the Netcare Foundation. Naiker also paid tribute to Sandy Segal who ran Netcare’s corporate social investment (CSI) programmes for a number of years and sadly passed away last year (2012) after a long illness.
Oliver Empowerment Awards director, Karla Fletcher, says that the awards, which are in their 12th year, honour the strides made by local companies to further our country’s collective broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) priorities. “Being honoured as a winner or finalist is a prestigious distinction,” she says.
Netcare has been acknowledged at the Oliver Empowerment Awards for the last three years. In 2012, the group won the Supply Chain, Community Development and New Black Business Development awards and was a finalist in the Top Empowered Business of the Year category. In 2011, Netcare was the Top Empowered Company of the Year and also won the Top Empowered Big Business Award and the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Sector award.
Commenting on the group’s achievements, Naiker notes that it is critical that South African society is normalised after its long history of inequity. This, she observes, is a goal towards which all South African institutions and individuals should be striving and is of particular importance in healthcare, which is fundamental to the sustainability and progress of any nation.
Naiker says Netcare is committed to working with government and other roleplayers to develop additional ways of delivering healthcare so that more South Africans can have access to quality healthcare. “It’s about delivering sustainable solutions which meet the needs of our people. Netcare is one of 23 private sector companies participating in the Department of Health’s Social Compact, which is strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors to address the challenges facing healthcare in South Africa,” she adds.
Netcare has been an important creator of employment within the economy over the years. In 2012, the number of permanent staff increased by 2.1%. ”Empowering staff is as important as job creation. We are committed to the professional development and personal growth of our employees,” said Naiker. “Women, for example, comprise 82% of the Netcare workforce, 50% of the executive committee and over 70% of middle and senior management.”
The company continues to invest considerable resources in training and is making a notable contribution towards addressing the skills shortage in the healthcare sector in SA. Through Netcare Education, the group not only provides training to its own employees, but also to public sector employees and members of the public.
“We recognise that much remains to be done on the road to an equitable South Africa. “However, as indicated by this award, this is a journey we at Netcare are fully committed to,” she concludes.
Ends
Issued by: Martina Nicholson Associates (MNA) on behalf of Netcare
Contact: Martina Nicholson, Graeme Swinney or Monique Vanek
Telephone: (011) 469 3016
Email: [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]