DTC South Africa
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DTC South Africa sorts and values all of De Beers Consolidated Mine’s production, averaging 13 million carats per annum. It is also responsible for local sales and working closely with its South African Sightholders, and industry at large, to support the establishment of a sustainable manufacturing industry in the country.
In 2006, a Diamond Trading Company working group was established to develop appropriate operational and Governance frameworks for the establishment of effective DTC operations around the world. As a result of the initial findings of the group, and in line with our joint venture agreements in Botswana and Namibia, the DTC restructured its operations in South Africa.
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Faried Sallie,
Managing Director of DTC SA
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As part of this initiative and aligned to the South Africa Government’s local beneficiation objectives, the DTC merged its sorting, valuing and sales operations in South Africa, to create the single operation of DTC South Africa.
The company is now fully operational, with a Client Liaison office in Johannesburg. The location of the headquarters in Kimberley was intentionally chosen to assist with the regeneration efforts in the Northern Cape Province, where the company is located, in order to support the improvement of local skills and boost employment in the region.
The organisation has about 250 staff members, half of whom concentrate on sorting and valuing activities, with the remainder being support staff in areas such as finance, IT and administration services.
During 2007, DTC South Africa relocated its sights, the sales of rough diamonds to its clients, from Johannesburg to Kimberley, with the first sight taking place in Kimberley in March 2007.
DTC South Africa also engages in a range of activities that aim to support the establishment of a sustainable, integrated diamond industry and to further the wider economic goals of the South African government.
These activities include skills development, marketing initiatives and promotion of South Africa abroad.
These beneficiation activities include:
Offering consistent and predictable supply to its clients for local manufacturing.
- Supporting the local cutting industry by offering a consistent and predictable level of supply, enabling the country’s downstream industry to maximise the efficiency of its operations in a secure supply environment. As a result, the downstream industry is able to invest with confidence in new capacity and marketing initiatives.
Promoting skills development
- Through the Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Training School, De Beers and the industry are facilitating cutting and polishing skills required in the industry.
Since its establishment in 1999, about 450 students have graduated from the Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Training School popular cutting and polishing course.
- During 2007, DTC South Africa started working with the Government of the Northern Cape Province to develop a business case for the establishment of an International Diamond and Jewellery Academy in Kimberley.
The academy is aimed at providing skills development in key areas such as rough diamond evaluation, cutting and polishing, polished grading, jewellery design, jewellery manufacturing through to marketing and retail. The project team is now focused on assessing the business case with the aim of establishing the academy towards the end of 2008.
Supports and encourages new entrants into the South African downstream industry
- De Beers has made certain management, technical expertise and assets available to South Africa’s Department of Minerals and Energy for the next three years to enable the launch of the State Diamond Trader (SDT).
As part pf the De Beers Family of Companies, DTC South Africa is playing a pivotal role in this regard by facilitating the sale of up to 10% of DBCM’s production to the SDT.
- Since 1996, the DTC has run the Shining Light Awards competition, which aims to encourage and develop South African jewellery design talent and create opportunities for skills development and job creation for all South Africans.
Since its inception, there have been a total of 92 Shining Light Awards winners. Of these, 28 have been categorised as professionals and 64 have been students. Encouragingly, there is a growing proportion of Historically Disadvantaged Individuals participating and winning year-on-year.
Stimulating consumer demand for diamond jewellery in South Africa
- In 2006, DTC SA launched an exciting and powerful new diamond jewellery concept, KYA, aimed at creating desire and preference for diamond jewellery among domestic consumers.
The programme is done in partnership with four DTC South Africa Sightholders and there are a total of 100 retailers around the country participating in the programme – both chain stores and independents.
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