High-profile steel company looks at developing communities
Legendary steel manufacturing company has firm roots in Germiston.
Although the Macsteel head office building on Dyson Road, Wadeville, was demolished a few years ago, the company’s roots are still well embedded in Germiston.
Proving this to be fact, the boardroom at the old head office site still remains intact.
Eric Samson, founder of Macsteel, also had his office preserved in Wadeville.
The current head office is located in Lilianton, Boksburg.
“Long-term benefits for Macsteel prevailed over sentimental feelings and the decision was confirmed that our old Macsteel head office building on Dyson Road had to be demolished a number of years ago,” said acting marketing manager Candice Menoita.
The steel industry legends boast a prominent status across the country and in sub-Saharan Africa.
Their business units have been categorised into two broad sectors – trading and manufacturing.
Within the two sectors consists eight dynamic business units, operating from a network of more than 60 service centres, branches and warehouses.
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Macsteel supplies the entire sub-Saharan geographic region with a broad range of carbon steel, stainless steel, speciality steels, aluminium products and value-added processes to all industry sectors.
“Macsteel Service Centres SA has developed and expanded to be Africa’s leading manufacturer, merchandiser and distributor of steel and value-added steel products,” said Menoita.
Macsteel has also set in place a Corporate Social Investment (CSI) mission that aims to improve the lives of the disadvantaged.
“Our CSI mission is to actively contribute to the upliftment of disadvantaged communities surrounding our operations and those communities from which we source our labour.
“We do so through efficient and effective social investment programmes in both the identified priority focus and geographical areas.
“We wouldn’t be able to do this without our employees, the Macsteelers,” said Kim Allan, group corporate social responsibility manager.
To facilitate and support their employee community involvement programme (CIP) the Macsteel Volunteer Programme was launched in November 2015.
The programme has since grown and is still aligned with their CSI strategic objectives.
“Eighty-one per cent of the investment in community involvement activities has been successfully aligned to benefit existing socio-economic development beneficiaries from our focus area pillars namely, health and wellness, education and capacity building and welfare.
“This is a real indication of Macsteel’s commitment to our communities and the move toward active participation and involvement is evident,” said Allan.
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The company has since recognised that among their 4 000 employees there are many natural caregivers, pastors and community leaders.
Through the CIP they are able to encourage employees to engage as a socially responsible organisation involved in the development of communities in the surrounding areas in which the company operates.
“This outreach can bring about a sense of worthiness to staff as they will be making a significant difference somewhere and feel a deeper sense of belonging to a ‘caring family’,” said Allan.
The company has also found that community volunteering also exposes staff to the insecurities that accompany job loss or unemployment which will enhance empathy.
In turn, Macsteel will enter into a social contract with the communities and contribute to a better sense of social cohesion within these communities.
“Macsteel Cares has become a brand that is consciously identified by both our employees and the communities we interact with,” said Allan.
“Our long-term vision is eventually to see each and every Macsteeler in a Macsteel Cares shirt, meaning they have volunteered and are proud to be associated with the brand.”
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