Thorburn Security, a division of Tsebo Solutions Group, has announced its recent collaboration with Kwa-Zulu Natal security company, Ithuba Protection Services, as part of its Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) initiatives across Africa.
Ithuba Protection Services was contracted to provide security officers from the Witbank community with manned guarding services at thermal coal exporter Thungela, based in Mpumalanga. In the past, the security challenges faced at the mine included malicious damage and theft.
As part of Thorburn's ESD program, Ithuba underwent professional vetting, and its potential officers’ participated in a learnership programme, receiving the necessary certifications to execute their duties with high standards of excellence.
Within an impressive timeframe of 900 hours after securing the Thungela contract, Thorburn implemented an integrated security management solution. The package included manned guarding, tactical response teams, control room operators, a fleet of security response vehicles, and a Thorburn Business Intelligent Management System (TBiMS) platform, customised to cater to Thungela's tactical, operational, and strategic requirements.
In addition to delivering a seamless security solution, Thorburn collaborated closely with Thungela to cultivate meaningful ESD relationships. These initiatives enable the sustainable growth of local businesses and communities. By extending their expertise and support, Thorburn contributes to uplifting local economies and fostering self-sufficiency in partner companies.
Thorburn acknowledges the vital role that local communities play in the success of its projects. So, in alignment with its values of corporate social responsibility, the company embarked on various corporate social initiatives (CSI) in the communities surrounding Thungela's mine sites.
Some of these inspiring pursuits include:
• Becca Farming: Thorburn contributed R75 000 to help the farming programme purchase a grass-cutting machine, necessary chemicals, as well as a charcoal oven, opening further opportunities such as charcoal production.
• Izithelo Zezandla: this cooperative aims to commercially farm vegetables, pigs, and dry beans, contributing towards alleviating poverty in the community. Thorburn contributed R75 000 to the farming project to install a fence around its property.
• Mabande Comprehensive High School: Tsebo donated school furniture worth R15 000 to the school.
As evidenced above, these initiatives aim to address community needs, drive social impact, and create positive and sustainable change in the lives of the residents. Much like Tsebo, Thungela believes in ‘responsibly creating value together for a shared future’, so by creating opportunities for individuals and small and medium businesses in the communities it serves, the private sector can help to positively transform the economy for the benefit of all.
Speaking on the collaboration, Ranesh Ranjith, Sales and Marketing Director at Thorburn Security, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, "I believe that if we look at business, we have to look at our communities, especially within South Africa. We have seen our communities and our businesses yearning for inclusive procurement from a sourcing and partnership point of view. This has been a journey in the making, and with help and guidance from Thungela, we have managed to hit most of our milestones. The partnership is critical for us as a business in terms of sustainability and our environmental, social and governance (ESG) responsibilities. It has allowed us to facilitate learnership programmes, CSI initiatives, as well as SMME development."
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