Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environment
• Social
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced electricity, water, and paper consumption at head office; strategy underway to replace down-lights with LED lights; monitoring printer usage and installing timer switches for lights and air conditioners.

Social Achievements

• Spent R4.7 million on external staff training (2014: R1.2 million); contributed R474,377 to various charities; maintained a focus on equal opportunities and B-BBEE; 47% of staff are female (increase from 44% in 2014); 48% of staff are historically disadvantaged individuals (slight decrease from 49% in 2014); implemented a whistle-blowing policy and ethics hotline.

Governance Achievements

• Substantial compliance with King III principles; implemented IT policy, social media policy, and disclosure and communications policy; implemented state-of-the-art MERU wi-fi technology and hosted business-critical services at the Vodacom Business Datacentre; implemented Sage Pastel Evolution ERP software; established four committees (audit, risk, remuneration, social and ethics) to assist the board.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• MECS faced challenging market conditions; relatively static market size for MICROmega Securities; Turrito not yet making a significant contribution to the group.

Mitigation Strategies

• Restructuring efforts underway at MECS; considering acquisitions to grow MICROmega Securities; anticipating a more meaningful contribution from Turrito in the coming year; measures to cut fixed costs at MICROmega Securities.

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: King III

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Governance
• Social
• Environmental

Environmental Achievements

• Completed final stages of replacing down-lighting with LED bulbs; negotiated with contractors to change fluorescent lighting to energy-saving LED bulbs; tracked travel in company vehicles to regulate distance and prevent excess emissions; encouraged public transport use and provided a shuttle service; minimized printer usage and encouraged double-sided printing; implemented a system to automatically turn lights and air conditioning on and off.
• Reduced electricity consumption relative to employee number growth.

Social Achievements

• Invested in multiple charities; provided financial assistance to employees for further education; offered in-house and external training; promoted a fair and open work environment; organized group social events; complied with relevant labor laws; actively helped subsidiaries improve B-BBEE compliance scores; supported enterprise development initiatives; prioritized employee health and safety; implemented sector-specific occupational health and safety controls; provided training for relevant occupational health and safety roles.

Governance Achievements

• Aligned business practices with King III principles; implemented a Code of Ethics; established a Whistle Blowing Policy and Ethics Hotline; ensured subsidiary implementation of MICR Omega policies; established four committees (Audit, Risk, Remuneration, Social and Ethics) to assist the board; maintained an information disclosure policy; engaged with industry regulators.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Challenging economic conditions in South Africa and globally; cost reduction strategies and project postponements by major corporate clients; reduced customer expenditure; negative impact of Rand weakening on international investments.

Mitigation Strategies

• Focused on market positioning strategy; maintained and grew market share through product and service improvements; explored access to international equity markets for funding international expansion; continued focus on enhancing market position to drive future profitability; prioritized future growth needs over short-term profitability.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Professional code of conduct and Code of Ethics; responsible provision of goods and services; maintaining high standards of integrity, transparency, and good governance.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: King III

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Employee well-being
• Environmental sustainability (energy, water, waste reduction)
• Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE)
• Ethical behavior
• Stakeholder engagement

Environmental Achievements

• Initiatives to reduce electricity, water, and greenhouse gas emissions; utilizing more efficient resources and environmentally friendly products; monitoring printer usage and recycling; tracking travel in company vehicles to regulate distance and emissions; implementing automatic on/off system for lights and air conditioning.
• Not disclosed

Social Achievements

• Several learnership programs throughout the year, increasing the number of learners progressing to full-time employment within the Sebata Group.
• Promoting a fair and open work environment with open-door policies and a monthly internal newsletter.
• Organizing group social events to encourage integration and communication between employees.
• Compliance with Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Labour Relations Act, and Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Offering influenza vaccinations and vitamin B injections to employees.

Governance Achievements

• Compliance with King IV principles of corporate governance.
• Implementation of a whistle-blowing policy and ethics hotline.
• Regular Board meetings to review strategic direction, performance, and risks.
• Annual Board evaluations to assess performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Annual declarations of interests for Board members and subsidiary Managing Directors.
• Implementation of diversity policies to guide director appointment process.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Difficulties attracting new customers and retaining existing customers due to empowerment status, particularly in businesses serving local and provincial government.
• Demanding trading conditions and pressure on local authorities.

Mitigation Strategies

• Extensive restructuring of the Group to rebalance resources.
• Working to find a solution to the Group companies’ empowerment challenges to protect the value of the Group companies.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement

• Professional code of conduct and code of ethics

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Not disclosed

Transition Risks

• Not disclosed

Opportunities

• Not disclosed

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: King IV

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Not disclosed

Awards & Recognition

• Not disclosed