BEE Compliance

Southern Sun also exceeds the requirements as set by the Tourism Scorecard that governs transformation in the industry. The 100% shareholder parent company of Southern Sun, Tsogo Sun Group, is 51% owned by Tsogo Investment Holding Company, a respected BEE company that champions the cause of empowerment and transformation in the South African business landscape, while the remaining 49% is in the hands of SABMiller - itself a well -respected South African business leader with excellent transformation and empowerment credentials.

As far as the industry requirement for empowerment goes, Southern Sun exceeds the set requirement on each of the criteria. Furthermore the Managing Director of Southern Sun, Mr Helder Pereira, is on the BEE committee responsible for implementing the Tourism Scorecard as initiated by the Minister of the Environment and Tourism.

Southern Sun's parent, Tsogo Sun Holdings, has also been lauded as the best empowered employer in South Africa. Apart from true ownership empowerment, the staff profile is also a tribute to a true philosophy of transformation towards business equality. With the Impulelo Awards, the Black Business Council conducted an extensive poll and voting process among its 14 member organisations and nominated the Top 10 Empowerment Business Personalities of the Year last year.  From this group, the Black Businessman and Businesswoman of the Year were selected. The Black Business Council also nominated the Top Empowerment Companies of the Year.  The Tsogo Sun Group won two of these top empowerment awards.  Jabu Mabuza was named one of the eight Top Empowerment Business Personalities of the Year. 

Because of the need to retain good people, the emphasis is always on training and developing at all management levels and rotating management from unit to unit to spread the benefit from training initiatives.  Southern Sun is also very proud of the fact that many of its trainees and management have gone on to become leaders in the tourism industry.  As such the company is adding value to its own business as well as the prosperity of the industry as a whole. Southern Sun has empowered the development of many upcoming industry leaders through its cohesive training and development programme.

A good example of the group's commitment to training and development is the Southern Sun partnership with People Integrated (piAfrica), a company focused on developing black managers in business, utilising an innovative approach to Employment Equity.  Recently the first trainees in the management training programme graduated at a ceremony held in Johannesburg. The programme was specifically developed to train promising candidates from previously disadvantaged black communities as managers. They have since been deployed with great success. Two of these management trainees have since been appointed to General Manager positions; three hold Deputy General Manager positions, one is completing his training and one was unsuccessful and did not complete his development programme. This initiative is a key component of the Southern Sun Hotels Group employment equity and transformation strategy.

Southern Sun's parent, Tsogo Sun Group, employs over 8,000 people, (directly and indirectly), in its hotel and gaming divisions. The greatest social contribution Tsogo Sun Group can make is to ensure that it offers employees sustainable jobs with the opportunity to develop their skills, and that the employment relationship is constructive and beneficial to all. Both divisions in the group promote equal opportunity and fair treatment in employment; eliminating unfair discrimination; and implementing affirmative action to redress historical imbalances in favour of previously disadvantaged groups.