South African Business 2017 edition

INTERVIEW
impossible to make beer without
water! Customers who had purchased
our storage tanks didn’t
experience any loss in production
during the water shortages that
have affected some areas of the
country recently.
We are very mindful of the
problems relating to water scarcity
and in early 2016, SBS Tanks
donated water tanks valued at
R700 000 to two Free State
communities badly affected by
drought. This demonstrates the
company’s overall commitment
to drought relief efforts.
And a more general sentiment
that you would like
to convey?
SBS Tanks is a proudly South
African company, and by that I
mean that we choose not to believe
the “naysayers”, preferring
to retain faith in the country and
its people.
I too used to be fairly negative
about the prospects for
South Africa. In 2000 I emigrated
to the UK and, at the time, I was
convinced that would be a permanent
move. However, after
being seconded back to Africa, I
realised that I needed to make a
difference by contributing to positive
change and that is one of the
factors that affected my decision
to join SBS Tanks. We encourage
other small and medium South
African companies to remain committed
to operating here and to
contribute to the economic future
of the country.
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2017
70