NDT and inspection leader Dekra Industrial achieves current overall B-BBEE Level 1 Status
15 May 2023
Powerful and empowered:
Dekra Industrial has achieved a current overall Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment
(B-BBEE) status of Level 1. This rating, effective from 01 April 2023, comes after the company
was previously recognised as a Level 3 contributor with effect from 28 April 2022.
Managing Director Johan Gerber clarifies: “The change from Level 3 to Level 1 status in just
over a year is a tremendous achievement, and we are very pleased and proud to make this
announcement! The revised status gives Dekra Industrial access to tenders for state-owned
enterprises (SOEs) and other projects, where having a Level 1 or 2 status is a minimum
requirement. Furthermore, when the tender stipulates the minimum requirement of a Level 2
status, having a Level 1 status is then an added competitive advantage, with a 135% BEE
procurement recognition.
A powerful – and empowered – combination
“This new Level 1 status also gives the company improved access to heavy industry tenders –
in sectors such as renewable energy and petrochemical – where local content is required. A
powerful adjunct to this is Dekra Industrial’s highly-regarded global Service Division Industrial
Inspection, with its specialist non-destructive testing (NDT) and inspection skills, technologies
and extensive knowledge base.
Combined with our current overall B-BBEE Level 1 status, this now creates a very powerful –
and empowered – offering in the local and pan-African non-destructive testing (NDT) and
inspection market. We are able to offer additional services that none of our competitors can;
and are, moreover, advantageously supported by the potent international Dekra brand, with its
deep history, significant expertise and global experience of almost a century with the support of
the global Europe-based Service Division Industrial Inspection.”
Proudly assisting employees, clients and business partners
Gerber notes that Dekra Industrial is also very proud to have achieved this current overall Level
1 status as part of its commitment to diversity and inclusion, and the overall ongoing
development of South Africa and its economic transformation.
“We trust that, as the company successfully gains access to increased business in the future,
the benefits thereof will also positively impact our employees, because all new business
improving the company’s revenue ultimately benefits their careers and development,” he
explains.
“In addition, the achievement of the current overall B-BBEE Level 1 status is also of benefit to
Dekra Industrial’s clients, suppliers and business partners. Our revised status means that we
are able to offer a procurement rating of 135 percent which assists our Dekra Industrial clients
with regards to their own BEE status and ratings, and competitiveness in the marketplace.”
Procuring from a supplier with a Level 1 B-BBEE certificate means that 135 percent of the Rand
value spend from this supplier will be contributed towards the company’s Preferential
Procurement scorecard.
Top marks: an excellent scorecard
Gerber continues: “An analysis of the points allocated across the five main B-BBEE scorecard
categories: ownership, management control, skills development, enterprise and supplier
development, and socio-economic development – and the percentages and weightings required
versus Dekra Industrial’s actual scores, reveals that the company did very well, attaining full
points across the board for three out of the five categories.”
He clarifies that, in addition, Dekra Industrial scored extremely well in the enterprise and
supplier development category, achieving more than 100 percent of the possible points for this
category.
“We focused on specific aspects of the preferential procurement section as well as skills
development. Some of the challenges involved understanding the requirements of the
legislation and then complying with these requirements, including balancing our procurement
spend with our suppliers throughout the year across all categories,” explains Gerber.
“In order to retain our status next year, we will monitor our procurement spend every month for
the annual period for which it is valid. In this way, we aim to renew our current overall B-BBEE
Level 1 status in 2024 as well.”
The empowering value of teamwork
Gerber adds: “I must offer my heart-felt gratitude to Christopher Mörsner, who is the Head of
Training at the Dekra Institute of Learning (IOL), one of the business units within Dekra
Industrial. He is an experienced training and development consultant, a longstanding member
of our team, and was instrumental in assisting Dekra Industrial with improving our B-BBEE
status.
“Together with his entire team, he has been a key driver of the process within the business. We
were very fortunate to be able to draw on his immense knowledge, and are delighted that the
benefits of our new B-BBEE status will also positively impact Dekra IOL’s clients,” he enthuses.
“We look forward to continuing to play our part in supporting transformation and diversity,
together with our clients, suppliers and business partners as a truly powerful – and empowered
– NDT and inspection leader in local and pan-African industry,” concludes Gerber.
(807 words)
About Dekra Industrial and Dekra Institute of Learning
With 98 years in the industry through its global parent company, Dekra Industrial SA has
established a formidable reputation as a leader in inspection services, non-destructive testing
(NDT), material testing, laboratory services, Advanced NDT, and asset integrity services, and
offers industry training through Dekra Institute of Learning. With a Group presence in more than
50 countries on five continents, Dekra Industrial RSA provides safety solutions across a
multitude of industries, including power generation, oil and gas, construction, petrochemical,
manufacturing, fabrication, pulp and paper, rail, mining, steel industry and foundries, within
South Africa and pan-Africa.
Dekra Industrial SA is a holistic services provider of NDT inspection, corrosion control with rope
access and lifting, Dekra Industrial SA has 51 percent black woman ownership and has
achieved a current overall Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) status of
Level 1.
The company is also RD 0034-compliant, a nuclear safety compliance standard and is one of
the few NDT companies locally to hold the ISO 45001:2018 certification as well as the DNV
certification giving Dekra Industrial access to many inspection opportunities in the maritime
sector.
The Dekra Institute of Learning (IOL) is QCTO-accredited and delivers online learning across all
industries, in both public and private sectors, with training pitched to all levels of competency,
focusing on HSE, ISO and CPD-aligned courses. Classroom-based and distance learning are
also available.
Dekra Industrial strives to be recognised as the ‘heroes of safety’.
