Media News South Africa

Proudly South African' campaign honours Independent Newspapers, Cape

EIGHT Cape Town businesses, including Independent Newspapers Cape, walked off with prizes at the first Proudly South African awards ceremony, held at Mutual Park in Pinelands.

The campaign is aimed at encouraging demand for local products and services, which will boost job creation and the economy. It was launched last October and so far has attracted 158 members.

Independent Newspapers Cape won the Mampudi Wapele (Sotho for first champion) award yesterday for being the first newspaper company to support the cause.

The company, which owns the Cape Argus, ran a R5 million regional awareness campaign early this year as part of its commitment to the initiative. Other companies which were honoured at the founder members' forum yesterday were Old Mutual (as the official sponsor), Cape Union Mart (as the first clothing retailer), De Wetshof Estate (the first agricultural partner), I&J frozen foods, SPS (the first technological partner), the University of Cape Town (first educational institution) Monkey Business and Streetwise (the first crafters to join).

The chairman of the campaign, broadcaster Tim Modise, paid a special tribute to Cape businesses for their eagerness to sign up. He also congratulated local internet tycoon and soon to be first African in space, Mark Shuttleworth, for keeping the South African flag flying high. "South African businesses have got to find a way of developing an environment that is challenging," Modise said.

The campaign's chief executive, Martin Feinstein, said the campaign was "an attempt to mobilise people to believe in this country". The campaign was receiving three to four applications a day and they anticipated between 400 and 500 new members by the end of the year. Similar forums would be held quarterly to keep members updated, he said.

Dawn Currie, marketing manager for the campaign, said 92% of South Africans had responded positively, and they were targeting young people.

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