Industrial automation company Rockwell Automation has joined forces with South African trusts, Ma Afrika Tikkun Endowment Trust and Simanye Trust, as its broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) shareholders.

In a statement released on Tuesday, MD Barry Elliot said the collaboration with its BBBEE shareholders represented an opportunity to pursue a focused strategy based on education, employment and enterprise opportunities that could make a genuine contribution to what the company saw as its responsibility of uplifting underprivileged communities.

“We looked for a strategic shareholder through whom we could ensure our social development objectives could achieve maximum impact in the communities and people that need it most. This is a long-term investment in our country with substantial shareholders that have an excellent record,” he said.

Afrika Tikkun had helped close to 20 000 beneficiaries a year for the last 21 years become more employable, productive and responsible, enhancing their self-efficacy.

“Afrika Tikkun’s methodology revolves around pursuing synergies of complementary skillsets that leverage maximum effectiveness in social development initiatives,” said Afrika Tikkun CEO Errol Pillay.

“We’re channelling the development mandates of Rockwell Automation into focused projects and programmes that are developing young people. Such corporate backing means we can enhance the reach of these initiatives.”

Simanye Trust was expected to help ensure developmental campaigns achieve a level of self-sufficiency that was rare in an empowerment climate largely defined by donations and sponsorships.

“Since we began in 2012, Simanye Trust has focused on addressing systemic problems within our country through innovative enterprise development initiatives that can be sustainable within capitalist models without just relying on corporate funding,” explained Simanye Trust founder Alana Bond.