A brick-manufacturing company from Madabani, Tshedza Concrete Art, won a gold award during the annual National Productivity Awards. The awards were made during a ceremony held at Emperor's Palace in Kempton Park a fortnight ago.
The National Productivity Awards are managed by Productivity SA and were held in conjunction with the Ekurhuleni Municipality and Department of Labour. Speaking at the awards ceremony, the Deputy Minister of the Labour Department, Inkosi Phatekile Holomisa, said the awards aimed to improve productivity and competitiveness in the work place throughout South Africa through the recognition of individuals, organisations and communities for their contributions to building South Africa's productive capacity.
According to the chairperson of Productivity SA's board, Mr Mthunzi Mdwaba, the national awards provide a platform to inspire a competitive and productive South Africa. He said that productivity improvement was considered the most effective way of ensuring ongoing competitiveness, economic growth and, consequently, more wealth for all.
Keynote speaker at the awards and acting general secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), Mr Bheki Ntshalintshali, said business, labour and government needed to work together to achieve a common goal in the work place.
Tshedza Concrete Art of Limpopo won the trophy in the emerging sector. The company specialises in the manufacturing of unique quality paving and building bricks. "Our mission is not only to manufacture bricks, but also to uplift the poor rural youth while reducing poverty in local areas," the company says on its website.