Grindrod reconfigures its BEE partners

TERRY HUTSON
GRINDROD HAS reconfigured its empowerment partners in the shipping industry.
Southern Tankers, which has on charter the tanker Southern Unity to BP and Shell, recently dissolved its partnership with Dudula Shipping and is now partnered with Holgoun Maritime Consortium, led by Sivi Gounden, which has a 25,1% share in the business. The name Southern Tankers changes to Grindrod Shipping to reflect the broadening of its shipping activities.
Ivan Clark, Grindrod’s MD, said it became important to reconfigure the consortium and to introduce a broad based and influential empowerment group into its South African shipping interests. The same consortium will also take up interests in Grindrod’s other South African shipping operations as well as related business in the shipping industry.
He said the partnership was another step in Grindrod’s stated intentions of supporting the local maritime industry.
Holgoun Consortium comprises Uluntu Holdings, Broad Based Women’s Group, Sivi Gounden, Hassen Adams, Nomazizi Mtshotshisa, J&J Group and Sechaba Burial Society. Gounden, who was elected as a non-executive director of Grindrod in December 2004, is also CEO of Bateman BV, a global process engineering company and serves as a director of Anglo American.