The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (Seifsa) has, as part of its ongoing growth strategy, approved amendments to its memorandum of incorporation in a bid to broaden its reach beyond South Africa and restructure itself in accordance with the Companies Act of 2008.

The federation, which had focused on advancing the interests of employers in the metals and engineering sector in South Africa since its formation in 1943, would now be called the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa, led by a CEO answerable to a board of directors.

While the organisation’s acronym would remain Seifsa, its new focus would be on the Southern African Development Community.

This move followed the expansion of a growing number of South African companies, among them Seifsa members, beyond the borders of South Africa.

The federation would now be able to assist South African companies outside the country, while companies in countries in the region would be able to join associations affiliated to Seifsa or the federation itself.

“This is a very important development in the organisation’s history. It means that Seifsa will now be able to participate in discussions on economic developments in Southern Africa and represent its members elsewhere in the region.

“We will now also be able to offer our various professional services to all who need them in the region,” commented CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba.

The Seifsa board, formerly known as the executive committee, would now serve a two-year term, instead of the previous one year, with 50% of nonexecutive directors elected at its annual general meeting.

Seifsa president Ufikile Khumalo would chair the board, assisted by Seifsa VP and Duys Engineering Group executive chairperson Henk Duys, Seifsa VP and ABB South Africa CEO Leon Viljoen, as well as Seifsa VP and Macsteel Services Centres CEO Hannes van der Walt.