Cosira Group Develops In The True Spirit of Transformation and Enterprise Development

13 July 2009

Cosira Group, one of the largest, privately-owned structural steel fabrication and construction companies in South Africa, has come a long way in the implementation of its enterprise development policy, transformation and the transfer of skills, which now form the cornerstone of all the Group’s operations.

Key in driving this important area of the business is Gift Phenethi, who, as a shareholder and Corporate Strategy Director of Cosira, is responsible for a portfolio which includes International and local business development, overseeing the Cosira Group’s public relations and marketing activities, and most notably, a dynamic and pivotal transformation role.

Gift Phenethi joined the Cosira Group in 2004, following the conclusion of a black empowerment deal with the TIH Group. “BEE and transformation has always been something that is extremely close to my heart,” says Phenethi.

“In keeping with the Group’s long tradition of entrepreneurialism and entrepreneurial spirit, we want to be innovative, industry leaders in transformation,” points out John da Silva, CEO of the Cosira Group.

‘This was therefore an area we wanted to develop, and Gift has contributed substantially to championing this cause at Cosira,” he explains.

He adds that the process of transformation has in fact come naturally to company such as Cosira, which has believed in this process from the beginning and has committed itself to these principles.

Comments Phenethi: “Cosira Group has an exceptionally transparent transformation process, and we are thereby accountable for each and every thing that we do. We have a strong policy of not merely paying lip service, but actually implementing those transformation goals that have been set out. The recent appointment of a dedicated transformation manager who will help educate employees around these pertinent issues is just another example of how Cosira is putting into action, what the Group has set out to achieve.”

In addition to the area of transformation, the Cosira Group is very active in that of enterprise development. According to Phenethi, the business has the resources and expertise to provide SMME operators engaging with them as suppliers, with the necessary experience, skills and resources to execute efficiently on projects.

“In selecting certain companies, we look at individuals and companies that share the same vision and are in the same discipline, and then provide the required assistance and support, providing those companies with a great opportunity for development,” says Phenethi.

A recent success story includes Capstone, a local corrosion protection company that has become one of Cosira’s major suppliers. The Cosira Group is also currently exploring joint venture (JV) possibilities with Capstone, to strengthen their participation in the marketplace even further.

Another example is the Black-Women-Owned (BWO) Company, Coppermoon, which is separately owned by three individual women that have had a long association with the Cosira Group. As a stand-alone, sustainable company, Cosira uses Coppermoon as one of its foremost suppliers of steel, including steel for the Eskom Medupi Power station contract they are currently doing for Alstom.

According to Phenethi, enterprise development has a vital part to play within the current global recession. “We have often seen in the past that economic downturns can present certain key opportunities.

By continuing to develop and support smaller enterprises, companies are actually contributing to stimulating the economy even further, and I am sure that these smaller enterprises will play a very significant role in this sector, in the coming economic upswing.”

Skills development is another area of great importance for Cosira in terms of integrity and innovation, where the Group plays a large role in mentoring young engineers and artisans to take up more responsibility in the future. The Group has at all times maintained that adequate succession planning is vital for future development.

 “We believe that this also makes Cosira a preferred employer within the industry, as our staff can be sure of personal development and growth within the Group,” Phenethi concludes.