Top Empowerment - E-book Multichoice

A SOUTH AFRICAN

SUCCESS STORY OF ACHIEVING A B-BBEE LEVEL 1

An indepth interview with Collen Dlamini, Executive Head: Corporate Affairs, MultiChoice SA

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CORPORATE SERIES

A SOUTH AFRICAN SUCCESS STORY OF ACHIEVING A B-BBEE LEVEL 1

MultiChoice SA Executive

COLLEN DLAMINI IS HELPING TO DRIVE TRANSFORMATION ACROSS SOUTH AFRICA’S ICT INDUSTRY

At the beginning of the year, MultiChoice South Africa announced the appointment of Collen Dlamini as their new Executive Head of Corporate Affairs. Collen is, in fact, a lawyer by training, and has previously served as Group Head of Regulatory Affairs for Kagiso Media, as well as a Special Regulations and Consumer Manager at MTN. Collen has also taken up the role of Executive Director at Future Managers in the past. Future Managers is a company geared towards utilising digital platforms to supplement traditional platforms in order to enhance teaching and learning for both students and lecturers in the higher education sector. Most recently, Collen also founded the Copyright Coalition of South Africa (NPC).

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TOP EMPOWERMENT 2021

A SOUTH AFRICAN SUCCESS STORY OF ACHIEVING A B-BBEE LEVEL 1

its product brands in South Africa. I manage and oversee stakeholder relations, corporate communications, internal communications, corporate services, SPONSOR 2021

reputation management, CSI, transformation, and the company’s social impact agenda.

On 15 July this year, MultiChoice SA played a pivotal role in the success of the 20th Annual Top Empowerment Summit, coming in as a top sponsor, and qualifying as a finalist at the Top Empowerment Awards in the ‘Enterprise & Supplier Development’ category.

We sat down for an interview with Collen to discuss his appointment and MultiChoice SA’s ESD programmes.

Please describe the core services that MultiChoice SA delivers.

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THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE NOTE OF: 1. The Bubblegum Club: born as

a cultural intelligence agency, it has grown into a digital publication and a content production studio.

2. Duma Collective: a creative communications agency

3. Mzansi Live: a Pan African independent multimedia

MultiChoice Group is a leader in

management company, who

video entertainment and is the

developed Mzansi2Cario, a

parent company of the following

broadcast media marketplace

brands: DStv, GOtv, SuperSport, M-Net, DStv Media Sales, Showmax and Irdeto.

What have been some of your major milestones?

Our ability to develop entrepreneurs in South Africa continues to be something we are extremely proud of.

Congratulations on your appointment this year as the Executive Head of Corporate Affairs at MultiChoice SA. Please unpack for us what your key roles and responsibilities are.

HERE ARE THE EIGHT COMPANIES

During this past year with its COVID-related challenges, our Innovation Fund provided much-needed financial support to eight small businesses, which helped them to create 47 new jobs.

4. Swypa Deliveries uses door-todoor scooters to deliver goods

and services for township-based businesses for orders placed through their app 5. The Plug: an online publication

focusing on all aspects of urban culture

6. The Throne: a boutique agency specializing in influencer

marketing, social media strategy, talent management and the home of The Throne Magazine 7. Whoosh: a payment solutions provider based in Tshwane

8. Yellow Bone: a film and

As the Executive Head of Corporate

Due to the exponential growth

Affairs for MultiChoice South Africa,

of online content, the Fund

I am responsible for protecting

focused on empowering online

focusing on bringing authentic

and enhancing the reputation and

content creators to scale up to

South African content to

image of MultiChoice and

meet the growing demand.

international markets

television production company,

TOP EMPOWERMENT 2021

A SOUTH AFRICAN SUCCESS STORY OF ACHIEVING A B-BBEE LEVEL 1

MultiChoice SA has maintained its level 1 B-BBEE status – to what do you attribute this success?

At MultiChoice, we believe in empowerment that makes a real impact in the lives of South Africans and take the first two letters of B-BBEE very seriously.

Broad-based is at the heart of our B-BBEE philosophy and we have made it our mission to implement and participate in inclusive initiatives that broaden empowerment as widely as possible – to as many South Africans as possible.

As part of our transformation initiative, we have developed a robust and integrated way of working that ensures that senior leadership who are responsible for making decisions are aware, involved and educated in the transformation work being done

industry by prioritizing black, black

two-way communication so it is

women and youth owned initiatives.

not just the committee filtering through information to staff but

To be eligible to be a beneficiary

should any of our staff be part of

of the MultiChoice Enterprise

any CSI projects, we can evaluate if

Development Trust, companies

there is potential for wider support

need to be in the ICT sector, be

and if such a project has impact

minimum 51% black-owned with

on the scorecard.

a turnover that does not exceed R50m per annum.

Our B-BBEE committee is one of the catalysts that have helped

Since inception, the fund has

with coordination, but we must

disbursed R252m in loans, grants

also give credit to the leadership

and business development

of MultiChoice Group – who see

expenses to assist beneficiaries in

BEE as a business imperative

acquiring skills and assets.

and not just a compliance issue and thus have ensured that all

Our ESD programmes are truly

initiatives are driven from the top.

effective as over the years they

Please describe MultiChoice SA’s ESD programmes.

We have an ESD system through the MultiChoice Enterprise Development Trust, recently branded as the Multichoice Innovation Fund, which

win the organisation.

focuses on funding innovation

In 2020, we developed a B-BBEE

broadcasting, innovation,

committee to develop strategies and monitor the progress of our B-BBEE initiatives. This committee is made of B-BBEE pillar champions and sponsors. The pillar owners are responsible and accountable for the execution of the B-BBEE strategies and policies in their respective functions. They are also responsible for the implementation of policies that govern the respective pillars.

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This approach has allowed

have been able to create jobs, impact the South African economy, are sustainable and ensured that our communities are viable. Since 2012, our beneficiaries have grown more than expected, where some have generated more than R100M per annum.

SMEs that operate in the technology, and the ICT sectors.

We also provide mentorship and the skills necessary to acquire assets and supply MultiChoice with various high-quality productions.

Our ESD programmes have helped to drive transformation in South Africa in the ICT

TOP EMPOWERMENT 2021

A SOUTH AFRICAN SUCCESS STORY OF ACHIEVING A B-BBEE LEVEL 1

OUR ESD PROGRAMMES ARE: • Enterprise development through the Innovation Fund which uplifts small black entrants into the market.

This year, we funded nine companies who now have diversified portfolios and additional revenue streams.

• Our preferential procurement programme ensures continuous support of BEE compliant suppliers that are in our database.

• Supplier development through the Innovation Fund. We have helped small service providers grow and remain sustainable. We have funded 21 companies including Duma Collective, who is now MultiChoice’s digital and PR agency.

• One of Multichoice Group’s strategic pillars focuses intently on Employee Development, where operational excellence is maintained through developing talent, skills, and diversity. The Group leadership continues to pledge both investment and focus into the growth of internal staff and our positive impact upon the communities we serve.

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What are some of the company’s CSI initiatives?

Our purpose is to enrich lives.

We are committed to contribute to economic and social development of our country. Our CSI initiatives focus on creating employment opportunities, developing upand-coming filmmakers and sports stars through training and skills transfers, and supporting budding entrepreneurs and

• Recently launched DStv Netball Challenge: In May we launched the DSTV Schools Netball Challenge, a nationwide competition that will shine a spotlight on young female athletes between the ages of 16 and 19 who play netball at secondary schools across the country.

• Regional TV stations support:

MultiChoice has given 1KZN TV

SMMEs.

and Mpuma Kapa TV each a grant

The following are some of our

capability and establish news

CSI projects.

• Let’s Play: SuperSport Let’s

Play gives young people the opportunity to participate in sport activities. This provides much needed social and physical stimulation, which positively impacts their overall wellness.

• DStv Diski Challenge: Through

the DStv Diski Challenge we fast track the development of young players from disadvantaged communities into professionals in the Premier Soccer League.

to improve their news coverage bureaus for Newzroom Afrika in their respective provinces.

We partnered with the Youth Employment Service (YES) to assist with the recruitment and training of 300 learners. Seventyfive TVET college students will receive internships across a diversified portfolio that includes HR, Finance, Marketing, Law and IT, while the remaining 225 places are prioritised for learnerships in the ICT space for matriculants and others with qualifications but who are not working.

• MultiChoice Talent Factory: MultiChoice is building

tomorrow’s workforce today, through the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) which invests in the creative industry in 14 countries across Africa with the aim of growing a pipeline of African storytellers.

TOP EMPOWERMENT 2021

A SOUTH AFRICAN SUCCESS STORY OF ACHIEVING A B-BBEE LEVEL 1

How has the pandemic impacted the company?

For FY21, MultiChoice South Africa increased its 90-day active subscriber base to reach 8.9 million households.

The increase was driven by heightened consumer demand for video entertainment products, continued penetration of the mass market, and an easing of electricity shortages. We started the year confronted with severe disruptions to our programming schedules, bleak macroeconomic forecasts and sharply weaker currencies. In the face of these challenges, our teams rallied together – this helped us deliver on all our key performance metrics.

Last year, we also made means to support our suppliers and beneficiaries through various initiatives.

• The MultiChoice Group implemented several

measures to safeguard the incomes of cast, crew, and creatives as well as the

sustainability of production

houses during the coronavirus pandemic. We set aside

R80-million to ensure that productions were able to pay full salaries, and this went a long way in creating income stability for them and their families.

• Through the MultiChoice

Talent Factory, we launched an online learning portal

that supported over 40 000 members of the industry to gain access to courses and

online masterclasses, so they could continue to hone their craft while adhering to the public health measures of social distancing and isolation.

On a more personal note, what is your “why”?

Working every day to make

• The company also committed

a positive impact in the lives

of freelancers in SuperSport

meaningful and purposeful.

to work due to the suspension

I lift as I rise, when I help

to guarantee the incomes

of other people makes life

productions, who were unable

I find joy and fulfilment when

of sport and the national lockdown. This extended to ensuring the income of

others turn their tragedies into triumphs and hopeless situations into achievements.

freelancers in the broadcast technology environment.

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TOP EMPOWERMENT 2021

A SOUTH AFRICAN SUCCESS STORY OF ACHIEVING A B-BBEE LEVEL 1

Do you have a special message for the businesses and individuals out there struggling to survive?

These are challenging times for

What exciting plans do you have for the coming year?

everyone, and we believe that

• In May we launched the DSTV

an opportunity to address the

Schools Netball Challenge, a

and onboard the new cohort

nationwide competition that

of SMMEs that have just joined

will shine a spotlight on young

the Innovation Fund and there

female athletes between the ages

are some really exciting and

of 16 and 19 who play netball at

different plans that we cannot

secondary schools across the

wait to share with them.

country. The tournament will be contested across all nine provinces and aims to take South African Schools Netball (SASN) to a whole new level by giving the sport more exposure and encouraging greater support, especially in the lead up to the upcoming 2023 Netball World Cup to be held here on South African shores.

• We will also be increasing

• We will also be running a mentorship program together with industry experts that promises to be very invaluable for our beneficiaries.

• To continue transforming and developing the media and broadcast landscape, Newzroom Afrika entered into an agreement with two of South Africa’s regional TV stations, 1KZN TV and

investment in the Let’s Play

Mpuma Kapa TV. To support this

to increase access to state-of-

1KZN TV and Mpuma Kapa TV

sports fields project, which aims

initiative, MultiChoice has given

the-art sporting facilities for

each a grant to improve their

disadvantaged schools and communities across South Africa, with a focus on rural areas. We believe that having access to a world-class sports field is a big first step to encourage children to be more active and lead a healthier lifestyle.

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• We are also excited to welcome

news coverage capability and establish news bureaus in the respective provinces. These grants will cover production equipment such as cameras, lighting, sound, and computers, as well as training and technical

they are also providing us with plethora of social ills that have been brought to the fore because of the pandemic.

IT MAY SEEM LIKE IT IS ALL DOOM AND GLOOM NOW, BUT IT IS UP TO US TO HAVE A POSITIVE LENS ON HOW WE VIEW THE WORLD. OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS SKYROCKETING, AND WITH THAT COMES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESSES TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO SOLVE SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS IN A MORE CREATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE WAY. The MultiChoice Group continues to see a lot of opportunities in the media, technology and digital sectors and we have been and continue to support SMMEs that are coming up with innovative solutions that address unique African problems.

support.

TOP EMPOWERMENT 2021

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a w a r d s 20 21

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TOP EMPOWERED ENTERPRISE & SUPPLIER DEVELO PMENT Top Empowered Company: Awarded to Enterprise & Supplier Development

Merchants SA

Awarded to

For its outstanding achievements as MULTICHOICE a top empowered in its sector and company for contrib uting to the growth & sustainability of the South African economy.

For its outstanding achievements as a top empowered company in its sector and for contributing to the growth & sustainability of the South African economy.

SPONSOR 2021 TOP EMPOWERED ENTERPRISE & SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT

Ralf Fletch er

Chief Executi ve Officer

Ralf Fletcher Certified by Topco Media

C hie f Exe c ut iv e O f f ic e r

Certified by Topco Media

Contact our Group Editor Fiona Wakelin : fiona.wakelin@topco.co.za

Brought to you by:

MULTICHOICE GROUP LIMITED KING IVTM APPLICATION REPORT 2021

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