De Beers Venetia Mine recently won the National Productivity Institute (NPI) Gold Award as South Africa’s top corporate company at the institute’s award ceremony held in Johannesburg at Gallagher Estate. Mr Johnny Velloza, Venetia Mine’s operations manager, received the award that was presented to the staff of the mine.

Public and private sector enterprises showing a significant and productive improvement in their working environment are annually awarded with this prestigious award. Successful management practices and improvements that enterprises apply are recognized with these awards, especially when enterprises show evidence of social and economic benefits like job creation, empowerment, improved working conditions and safety.

De Beers Venetia Mine received this top accolade for their productivity approach, improvements and commitment to sharing profits, which were announced at the awards ceremony. They managed to reach close to 80% of the calculated maximum of ore extraction per year to the benefit of workers and shareholders, which also spilled over to the community, especially educational infrastructure. The company’s overall equipment effectiveness improved from 54% to a forecast of 77% for 2006. Drilling utilization increased from 34% to 60% over a period of nine months.

Velloza was most appreciative that De Beers Venetia Mine was recognized nationally by international adjudicators as the leading corporate sector company. In his speech, he thanked the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism for acknowledging the company as South Africa’s leading corporate company. He thanked every employee of Venetia Mine for their contribution in making all of them winners. Winning the award proves that the company is achieving its vision.

"Together as one, delivering shareholder value in a safe, responsible manner" said Velloza.

"Being recognised for not only our productivity improvements but our contribution in terms of the social and environmental factors of business is a major confidence booster to Venetia Mine and the whole De Beers Company and this award underpins our commitment to the Limpopo Province," said De Beers Consolidated Mines’ managing director, Mr David Noko.