BEE

• Despite being one of the largest privately-owned steel fabrication and construction businesses in Southern Africa, the Cosira Group has surpassed government’s black economic empowerment (BEE) charter requirements, aiming to improve the currently having a Level 6 procurement recognition level.
• Following the conclusion of a black empowerment deal with the TIH Group in 2004, the company is the first major black-empowered structural steel fabrication, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, platework and piping construction company in South Africa. The Cosira Group has also achieved Level 9SL & 9ME CIBD ratings.
• The Group complies with all statutory broad-based black economic empowerment requirements which are stipulated in Codes of Good Practice, while maintaining the highest levels of staff competence.

The Cosira Group is committed to provide fair and equitable access to training opportunities for all its employees. A robust skills development programme is linked to the Workplace Skills plan, with a view to increasing BEE representation at senior management level. We have set ourselves ambitious targets in this regard.

Preferential Procurement

Preferential Procurement is a cornerstone of our supply chain management practices. Our preferential procurement policy gives specific preference to BEE compliant enterprises, SMMEs as well as black-owned enterprises and the Rules of Engagement between Cosira and its suppliers are stipulated . It provides clear guidelines in terms of how Cosira will procure in future, how preference will be awarded and scored. The Cosira Group continuously measures BEE status of all its suppliers and encourages and supports suppliers to improve their own B-BBEE scorecard

Enterprise Development

Cosira International (SA) (PTY) LTD is involved in various initiatives contributing to black and Black Women-Owned enterprise development. These initiatives will, over time, stand to benefit the construction industry as a whole. An investigation into the establishment of a BEE supplier development programme to further cement our commitment to black owned businesses is underway. The Corporate and Social Investment (CSI) Policy, explains how enterprise development and Socio-Economic Development will be handled within Cosira.

Corporate Social Investment Programme

The bulk of the Cosira Group’s corporate social investment is allocated to initiatives that involve using the company’s resources to benefit and uplift communities, and is not primarily driven as a marketing initiative.

While not its only cause, the company has focused on Nkumbulo Comprehensive School. This school is located near Cosira’s new fabrication facility at Vulcania - Cosira Vulcan - in the township of Kwa-thema on the East Rand. Cosira has equipped the school with 51 computers towards the aim of improving learning and achievements within the areas of science and technology. Cosira is committed to building a hall for school and community events and will renovate the school’s ablution blocks.

Other initiatives include:

• Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC)
• Arts and Culture
• Old Age Homes
• Environment
• Early Childhood Development(ECD)
• Health
• Youth Development
• HIV programmes and Hospices
• Education (Nkumbulo Comprehensive School)
• Infrastructure
• Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET)