the practice group (pty) ltd applies an employment equity policy of providing equal opportunities to all persons and applies affirmative action

Affirmative Action

The Practice Group of Companies supports the principle of Affirmative Action and is committed to a process which is designed to correct the imbalances of the past. The Practice Group (Pty) Ltd applies an Employment Equity Policy of providing equal opportunities to all persons irrespective of race, creed or gender.

The Practice Group of Companies is also committed to the Reconstruction and Development Programme of South Africa (RDP) and its Human Resources Development Programme is in line with the RDPs chapter on Development of Human Resources.

This includes:

Alliances with marginalised groups;
Affirmative Action and Employment Equity;
Training; and
Social Involvement

The Group's Resources Development Programme has both a short and longer term focus.

In the short term, the Group has established a number of alliances with marginalised consulting firms and has implemented an Employment Equity Plan in accordance with the directives of the Department of Labour in terms of the Employment Equity Act. The Group is also a member of PLANCOM a voluntary association of planners willing to offer pro bono service to disadvantaged communities.

In the medium to longer term, the Group awards bursaries to Technicon and University students in Town and Regional Planning. In-house training of employees is provided the Practice Group and pro-actively implements an affirmative action policy when new appointments are considered.

Dladla Planpractice is a new HDI empowerment initiative of the Group with the view to creating a separate solely owned black town planning consultancy. The original and subsidiary company Planpractice Town Planners, will assist the new BEE company with funding and the transfer of skills, training and internship such that Dladla Planpractice may, in time, establish itself as an independent entity that can compete in the market place.

Directorship

The following persons have been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Group Company:

Mr M Madlala (Chairman)
Mr C Wiehahn
Mr P J Dacomb
Ms L Potgieter
Mr D Koekemoer

Ownership and Gender Profile

At present, the company is 40% black owned whilst the gender split of the executive staff is as follows:

	% Male	% Female
Black, Coloured, Asian, Indian	33
White	33	33

In terms of the number of employees the gender split of the company is as follows:

	% Split	% Male	% Female
Black, Coloured, Asian, Indian	35	14	21
White	65	36	29
	100	50	50

A comprehensive document outlining the group's human resources and affirmative action profile is available on request.