Blue Label Telecoms Integrated Annual Report 2019

Blue Label integrated annual report 2019 73 ABOUT US 1 – 21 LEADERSHIP 22 – 29 PERFORMANCE 30 – 73 GOVERNANCE 74 – 120 SHAREHOLDERS’ INFORMATION AND ADMINISTRATION 121 – IBC ESPAZA SUM The Group continues to provide support and expertise to eSpaza Sum for the refurbishment and upkeep of South African-owned spaza shops. FOCUS AREAS In line with our aspirations to digitise the informal sector, we are actively working together to develop innovative business management solutions for this unique sector. With the support of Blue Label, the spazas continue to report increases in revenue. THE LETSATSI KASI-VILLAGE The Letsatsi Kasi-Village project was co-pioneered by Blue Label Telecoms and the late Tshepo Seeta. Tshepo was the founder and managing director of eSpaza Sum, and a valued customer and friend of the Group. FOCUS AREAS The focus of the Letsatsi project is on the development of chic and modern containerised community-based business and entrepreneur hubs. It reflects our proactive approach and commitment to micro and small enterprise development. These hubs offer a physically and technologically enabling environment for youth-driven micro enterprises to incubate, scale and thrive with a view to ‘leap frog’ them into the fourth industrial and digital revolution. By stimulating the demand side of the economy we believe we can positively impact our youth unemployment crisis. The first pilot Letsatsi Kasi-Village located in Nellmapius in the City of Tshwane was launched in December 2018. It hosts a hair and beauty salon, business centre and internet café, fast food outlet, and a clothing and apparel store. OTHER PROJECTS In addition to the above interventions, we continued to partner with other non-profit organisations to address social issues that our youth are exposed to, such as domestic violence and abuse, and food security. JAM International, Reach for a Dream and Women and Men against Child Abuse are some of our longstanding beneficiaries and have played a significant role in enabling our programmes over the last year. FOCUS AREAS FOR 2019/20 Significant resources and expertise have been allocated to our current programmes and initiatives through our newly created Trust Blu Foundation. Therefore, going forward our key focus is on consolidation and scale, as well as continued collaboration with our non-profit organisation and implementation partners.