October 18, 2006
By Lucky Sindane
OLD Mutual, one of Africa's largest financial services companies, is relocating its head office to the city of gold.
This was announced at the Old Mutual Joburg mayoral dinner, which was held on Tuesday, 17 October at the Johannesburg Country Club in Woodmead. The dinner was attended by the city manager, Mavela Dlamini; members of the mayoral committee; senior City officials; Old Mutual South Africa's managing director, Paul Hanratty; senior Old Mutual officials; and representatives from various business organisations.
Explaining the decision to move the head office from Cape Town to Johannesburg, Hanratty said that there were huge opportunities for Old Mutual in Johannesburg.
"It is very exciting to be part of a developing city. Twenty years ago, when I came to Soweto, the roads were not tarred and there were no shopping malls but when I went back there now I found that all the roads were tarred and there were many developments happening … This is an opportunity for us to tap in where there is growth."
Welcoming the announcement, Executive Mayor Amos Masondo said, "We note with pride and a great sense of excitement that Old Mutual has made a courageous and wise decision to relocate its head office to the city of Johannesburg. We are aware that you could have chosen to move your head office anywhere in the republic – thank you for choosing Joburg.
"On our part, we have always endeavoured to position local government as an economic role player of significance, as a sphere of government that is committed to economic development, a contributor to wealth and job creation."
The dinner was part of an agreement reached by the City and Old Mutual during an auction at a gala dinner after the mayoral charity golf day in August. At that event, a dinner with the mayor was bought by Old Mutual for R30 000.
"As we were auctioning things during the gala dinner after the mayoral golf day, we ended up auctioning people," explained Bongi Mokaba, the City's events manager. "We auctioned the mayor to have dinner with Old Mutual and they paid R30 000 … that money will go towards the Buckets of Love initiative."
Executive Mayor, Amos Masondo, chatting to Old Mutual managing director, Paul Hanratty and members of his team
(Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)
About R1,472-million was raised during the annual mayoral charity golf day. The participants were from banks, retailers and business partners the City deals with on a day-to-day basis, as well as individuals, members of the mayoral committee and senior City officials.
"The Buckets of Love and Care Campaign is a project through which the City reaches out to individuals and families infected with and affected by HIV and Aids," Masondo said. "Since its inaugural launch in 2004, the annual mayoral charity golf day has enabled us to raise a total of R2,225-million.
"Thank you for participating in this initiative. This symbolises in many ways our commitment as people to strive towards creating and building a more caring society," Masondo concluded.
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