Packaging company establishes the first BEE sheet plant in SA

In 2005, Nampak Corrugated embarked on a restructuring process, which involved the consolidation of its national manufacturing footprint. Key to its union negotiations was the future of the division's sheet plant in Rosslyn, north of Pretoria. At the time, a decision was taken by the various stakeholders to investigate a series of business structures that would secure the plant's viability as an independent entity, separate from the parent company.

After extensive work on the part of its Corrugated division and the main union, CEPPWAWU, the Rosslyn sheet plant was sold on the 1st of October 2007 to Thebe Packaging, part of the Thebe Investment Corporation. An important feature of the transaction was that 50 Nampak employees kept their jobs and became shareholders of the new company. Thebe Packaging holds the majority stake.

In line with Nampak's strategy and commitment to BEE, the company has set-up a range of interventions and initiatives, each designed to ensure that the sheet plant is given the best chance of success. Corrugated's MD, Willie Wiese, says that current support mechanisms include technical and management assistance, as well as preferential materials pricing, and a buy-back agreement in terms of finished products.

Wiese is very proud of what's been accomplished at the Rosslyn sheet plant. “Not only have we facilitated the creation of the first BEE sheet plant in our country, but we've provided continued employment for people who in normal circumstances may have lost their jobs.”