Page 8 - KZN Business Sense - 8.2

Richard Mabaso (Founder & CEO of Imbumba Foundation), The KZN branch opening was attended by many regional business Zama Luthuli (Founder & CEO of Everest Strategic
Zama Luthuli (Founder & CEO of Everest Strategic stakeholders. Communications), Richard Mabaso (Founder & CEO of
Communications), and Phiwo Thango (Group Managing Imbumba Foundation), Natalie Keegan (Regional Director,
Director at Thango Business Solutions) Everest Communications – KZN)
PROVIDING PUBLIC RELATIONS SOLUTIONS

IN NORTHERN KZN

verest Strategic Communi- to shape their narrative and tell for change, empowerment, and Bay areas, Zama commenced Natalie has a dynamic
cations, a boutique public impactful stories, curate impactful entrepreneurship.” her executive role in 2013 as vice personality and energetic
Erelations agency now has ownable events that resonate president corporate affairs & approach to her work. She is
“Our vision is to also build
a footprint and local presence in with a wider audience and move and support local skills through shared services at PetroSA where passionate about her profession
Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal. The people forward,” She added, “Our providing internships and she was based in Cape Town. and offers a commitment to
KwaZulu-Natal branch was opened services range from strategic In 2015 she moved to Gauteng, integrity and an aim to leave a
on 6 April 2022. communications, public relations, freelance services to assist youth to take up the role of divisional positive legacy where possible.
sustainability, marketing, brand in communication studies to executive corporate affairs at
Experienced communications gain the necessary experience,” “Our solutions and the
expert, Zama Luthuli, is the building, and many other related explained Zama. the Industrial Development advisory we provide consider
Corporation (IDC). She held this
key areas. We don’t just offer PR
founder and CEO of Everest services, but we consider how our Zama is a solid expert in the role for close to five years, before the operating environment,
Strategic Communications and solutions have an impact within taking the leap to start her own the stakeholders within which
she is supported by the equally strategic communications and you operate, and financial
experienced Natalie Keegan, who the different departments or units public relations space with a total consulting business in 2020. sustainability. By working with
of 20 years’ experience under
internally and amongst your
is the regional director of the targeted audience.” her belt. Her experience may be Natalie is an extremely creative us you are supporting a 100%
KZN branch. and articulate businesswoman and black woman-owned business
Commenting on the launch of categorised into two decades is an experienced communication that is in tune with contributing
The Sandton based public the Richards Bay branch Natalie of ten years working in various specialist offering a purposeful meaningfully to society,”
relations (PR) agency offers public sector organisations and
innovative, fresh thinking said, “Having a local presence ten years in various private sector approach towards diverse concluded Zama. 
in Richards Bay makes business
challenges within the corporate,
for an integrated approach, sense for us as we understand the companies. This experience industry and private environment.
focusing on both traditional and area very well. “We understand entailed leading teams, She has well over 25 years’ relevant For more information contact:
the latest innovative trends in developing business strategies, C: +27 (0)82 3030 974
communications incorporating the issues communities face managing issues and reputational experience within South Africa E: zama@everestcommunications.co.za
W: www.everestcommunications.co.za
and how best to tailor make our
and the United Kingdom. Her
technology and digital public solutions to suit client needs.” She risk projects, and contributing to extensive experience includes the
relations solutions. organisations’ strategies through
added, “As we work with clients development and execution of
“We offer more than just in Richards Bay and broader KZN various strategic projects. strategies, campaigns, reports,
PR, explains Zama. Everest areas, we hope to be more than Following several management and projects for the benefit of her
Communications helps clients just a PR agency but a catalyst roles in the Durban and Richards clients and the larger community.

RBM OFFERS TRAINING TO SMALL BUSINESS

OWNERS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES

ichards Bay Minerals “We have heard the constructive ■ Develop proper costing for
(RBM) – and specifically feedback we received from tenders, and
RRio Tinto Procurement our communities in these ■ Properly complete tender
(RTP), which manages the engagement sessions,” says documents
mine’s procurement policies, Vash Nair, RTP Africa Business A certificate of attendance
procedures and processes – has Partner. “This training speaks was issued to each of the 25
completed a skills development to our commitment to building businesses that attended the
session for small business sustainable local businesses that two-day training programme
owners from the company’s can benefit from opportunities, in esiSkhaleni in the Mhlathuze
four host communities. both at RBM and with other Municipality on Monday, 4 April
businesses in the area.”
This training is an important and Tuesday, 5 April 2022.
outcome of the recent engagement RBM/RTP partnered with “We were encouraged by the
sessions held in each community Zizzy SkillsTraining, a local skills number of business owners who
with RBM’s Procurement and development trainer to develop participated in the training,”
Community Relations teams to and deliver the unique training says Nair. “We hope that the
improve understanding of the programme. The four key outcomes skills which have been shared
company’s vendor registration of the programme were to: will enable these SMMEs
and procurement processes. One ■ Build capacity within the to take advantage of future
of the repeated complaints from SMMEs to be able to identify opportunities as they grow their
these sessions was that RBM’s new markets and business businesses and unlock value for
procurement processes are opportunities our local communities.”
cumbersome and difficult to use
when local SMMEs want to tender ■ Thoroughly analyse tender www.riotinto.com/en/operations/south-
for opportunities at the mine. documents africa/richards-bay-minerals

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