Funny how time flies. It's been four years since we embarked on this journey of positioning Africa to Africa and to the world. We are thrilled at the progress and achievements that we have attained in the past four years working in partnership with our various stakeholders and clients to deliver value in terms of positioning brands, building strategic relationships with decision makers across all sectors of the economy, and enabling conversations.
We have worked across key sectors of Africa’s economy and have delivered work in the financial services, mining, healthcare, and transport sectors and have traversed the continent delivering on big projects in over 10 countries.
2017
In 2017, we delivered on the Stakeholder Relations Management and Public Relations for the go-to-market strategy for Minet Holdings Africa after it acquired Aon insurance businesses in seven African countries: Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia.
This project enabled us to showcase our African expertise and our deep understanding of the cultural nuances in each market and each country’s developmental priorities
We launched the Minet brand to business, government and media stakeholders in the six countries back-to-back in two weeks. This was aimed at ensuring that the rebranded entities were endorsed and accepted by stakeholders across the board and embraced as value adding partners.
In essence, in each of the respective markets, we had to answer the question: what is in it for the various stakeholders? This included messaging around how jobs will be impacted, how the quality of the products and service delivered will be ensured and how adherence to good governance will be prioritised.
2018
In 2018, together with CNBC Africa, we were tasked with creating a business agenda for Russia on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. The plan showcased the relationship between Russia and South Africa and possible opportunities that had still not been explored by the two respective markets.
We were thrilled to have over 200 captains of industry, investors and CEOs in South Africa. And we were especially pleased to have businesspeople from Russia and South Africa talking about business opportunities between the two countries, especially after a proposed South Africa – Russia nuclear deal had collapsed.
ANC treasurer general Paul Mashatile, who attended the event, addressed the audience. He elaborated on South Africa and Russia’s longstanding relationship at a political level, and stated that the two countries would continue to partner in future. Also in attendance were Kirill Lipa, CEO of Transmashholdings; Marc Partridge, Vice-President of Gazprombank; Stavros Nicolaou, Senior Executive for Strategic Trade at Aspen Pharmacare; and Andrew Lane, Senior Partner at Deloitte Africa.
2019
In 2019, our biggest highlight was the official opening of the TMH Africa premises in Boksburg, Johannesburg. It marked the arrival of a new entrant in the South African manufacturing space.
TMH is the fourth largest rail company globally and has invested R500-million in TMH Africa. The investment will go towards the acquisition of DCD Rolling Stock, a company with a 107-year history as a supplier of locomotives, wagons and related products. TMH Africa will also upgrade and develop the 45 000 square metre manufacturing facility formerly owned by DCD, which will be used to assemble, manufacture and service locomotives and other rolling stock for the continent.
TMH is the largest in Russia and the CIS and boasts massive experience and best practices that can be replicated for the benefit of South Africa and Africa’s expanding rail sector.
Another inspiring highpoint for us in 2019 was the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) sponsorship by Gilead Sciences. Through this sponsorship, we managed to highlight the challenges brought about by hepatitis B – the most deadly disease in Africa.
Hepatitis B has killed more people in Africa than HIV and AIDS and cancer combined.
What better way to amplify this message than through Africa’s premier football tournament?
So, we invited journalists from different African countries to AFCON, to kick-start a conversation around the effects of Hepatitis B on Africa.
2020
In 2020, when COVID-19 hit, we all assumed that business would be impacted. We are very grateful to the clients who retained us despite the impact that COVID-19 had on their businesses. In order to mitigate the widespread consequences of COVID-19, we had to adopt a new way of working and serving our clients in a novel and very difficult environment. Naturally, I think the main highlight for 2020 was how our team took the bull by the horns and embraced change.
2021
Finally, our principal highlight for 2021 has been the partnerships that we have forged with local communities through community media houses.
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for accurate information, and we need to demonstrate how corporates are supporting and helping our communities.
We are grateful to Exxaro Resources for being open to partnering with the Highveld Chronicle, eMalahleni FM and Witbank News in Mpumalanga, as well as the Mogol Post and Waterberg FM in Limpopo.
We are also grateful to Exxaro Resources and the Provincial Departments of Health in Limpopo and Mpumalanga for embarking on a mass COVID-19 vaccination drive for mine workers and mining communities.
All in all, it has been an amazing four years for us at the African Storyteller; time that has allowed us to actively play a part in quantifying, shaping and rewriting Africa's narrative for the benefit of local communities in South Africa and Africa.
Moving forward, we would like to assure our clients that we will continue to strive to deliver the best service and best value to them. And we will continue to provide partnership and support through this challenging time and post-COVID-19.