The Benefits
- ETG Curechem
- The Benefits
The Benefits
In line with the various BBBEE Sector codes of good practice, ETG has derived and will continue to derive the full scorecard points allocation on the Supplier, Skills and Socio Economic Development Elements of the scorecards. ETG has also been able to claim additional bonus points for job creation.
The BBBEE Scorecard benefit flows through to create business value as follows:
- Maintain and Increase Revenue: Enhanced competitiveness versus other companies in the industry – At the point of decision in a customers selection of a supplier a BBBEE compliant supplier will always be preferred.
- Customer Relationship Management and Business Retention: Customer value add – The ETG SA Operations can produce a BBBEE Scorecard to its customers which enables the customer to claim all spend with ETG SA Operations as Preferential Procurement. This assists the customer in achieving higher compliance on their own BBBEE Scorecard without any additional spend.
- Social Responsibility: ETG SA Operations is viewed as an upstanding and contributory Corporate Citizen as it has embraced South Africa’s challenges and is investing in the country in line with the Governments National Development Plan (BBBEE)
Employee Morale
- Employees will be able to see that ETG is not just a corporate only concerned with the bottom line but a corporate that cares for its employees and the communities in which the employees reside. Employees benefit from increased Training and Development which enhances and creates opportunites for employee personal and professional growth
Growth
- By investing in the youth of South Africa, ETG creates a flowthrough effect that facilitates growth in previously disadvantaged communities.
- The manner in which this occurs is that previously unemployed people are given a monthly stipend while on the program. This monthly stipend is then spent within the learners communities creating growth for the ”mom and pop” shops and other micro businesses so prevalent in previously disadvantaged communities.
- The increased revenue of these businesses then creates jobs and increases the cash in circulation within these communities. As this effect continues with time the growth created by the investment in these communities will expand beyond the communities and ultimately assist the growth trajectory of the country
Community Moral: All the people currently on the ETG programs are people who are classified as previously disadvantaged and fall within the LSM 1 to 4 band. These individuals are classified as “least access to wealth” and are individuals who have:
- Primary to some high school completed.
- Mostly Urban or Rural (i.e., not suburban).
- Household is traditional hut to matchbox house or shack.
- Salary ranges from R1,363 to R3,138 per month
- Media: Commercial radio is a major channel of communication with African Languages Services (ALS), TV with minimal channels, and minimal outdoor life.
- General: Minimal access to services, minimal ownership of durables except radio sets and stoves, low income transactional “Mzansi” bank account, minimal participation in economic activities, some electricity, hot plates, water on plot or communal, non-flush toilet, TV sets.
- Activities: Attend gatherings, go to night clubs.
By being a part of the ETG programs these people gain access to the economy in a sustainable and tangible manner. They are able to support their households and become role models for their siblings, family and friends.
Community Upliftment
- As a result of the programs, there has been a successful launch of a pilot Community Upliftment Project.
- The project entails developing youth from the local rural Howick, Merrivale, Tugela Ferry and Mphopomeni communities in KwaZulu Natal over the next five to seven years.
- The programme will equip the youth with the relevant farming skills, knowledge and experience to enter the world of Formal Agriculture.
- The programme officially began on the 01st April 2021.
- The youth have been recruited and placed onto NQF Level 1, Plant Production Qualification.
As part of the community upliftment program learners were tasked with visiting 3 sites in the surrounding community:
- Crystal Springs Crèche,
- Lions River Creche and
- Angel Ruth’s Soup Kitchen
The learners had a feedback session where they discussed how many seedlings they would need to order and gathering information from the responses they got while interviewing the teachers from the various crèches.
The learners have since gathered information and performed a feasibility study for this project.
After the feasibility study the learners were split into teams and each team created a presentation to pitch their different ideas to the Lecturer.
At the feedback discussion session, the learners worked on some calculations and discussed which vegetables they will be growing based on nutritional value and needs by the different feeding schemes. The result was a selection of plantings as listed below
Vegetables to be grown:
- Cabbage
- Spinach
- Beetroot
- Pumpkin
- Carrots
- Onions
- Tomatoes
In total the feeding schemes feed more than 300 children. Each child gets provided 2 meals a day including porridge in the morning and a full cooked meal for lunch.
On average, per week, each feeding scheme receives
- 2 bags each of onions, tomatoes, pumpkin and carrots
- 5 cabbages and
- 20 bunches of spinach.
Learning Paths
- The Programme integrates theory and practice and provides students with a broad range of knowledge and practical skills within the Agricultural field.
- In year 1, the learners are introduced to plant production and will gain a sound understanding of the basic principles of agricultural practice and business.
- In year 2, they will be developed further and on completion of Plant production 2 they will gain more in-depth knowledge of plant production processes and different methodologies.
- In year 3, the learner will gain the necessary competence to supervise and lead a working team performing the agricultural processes as regards plant husbandry. In addition, they will be well positioned to extend their learning areas into other agricultural commodities within the context of agronomy or horticulture as applicable to the agricultural commodity.
- In year 4, the qualification will allow supervisors to progress toward a Junior Farm Manager with specific reference to plant production.
- In year 5 dependent on their choice or field of interest they will further specialise in the area of choice.
- The programme is designed to teach the students the broad principles regarding farming activities such as animal-and soil production, as well as how to run the farm as a business.
- Students who successfully complete the NQF Level 4 qualification may seek employment opportunities in this field of study: –
- Farm Supervisor/Manager or Independent Owner/Farmer
- Nursery work (ornamental plants or vegetables)
- Mixed farming
- Landscaping or gardening services
Students who wish to further their academic studies may advance to the N4-N6 Farming Management National Diploma courses.
CAREER PATH ONCE A NATIONAL DIPLOMA IS COMPLETED
- A qualification in farming management could lead to one of the following careers:
- Farm Manager
- Farm Supervisor
- Food Processing Manager
- Agricultural Product Representative