Our vision for 5C diamonds is to
add value in terms of work and economic value to the Southern African
Development Community (SADC). Our plans are to assist the region
to add value to all of its rough diamonds and to develop Africa
into the world’s largest DIAMOND POLISHING CENTER. After all
SADC is the richest source of diamonds in the world
Thabo
Mbeki, The President of South Africa in 1998, initiated a call for
an African Renaissance. The vision of an African Renaissance for
Thabo Mbeki was to address amongst other issues, poverty and self-determination
for black South Africans (Mbeki, 1998). For him this means focusing
on,
“... the cancellation of Africa's foreign debt, an improvement
in terms of trade, an increase in domestic and foreign investment,
the expansion of development assistance and better access for our
products into the markets of the developed world”
Mbeki’s
concept of an African Renaissance has subsequently been included
in policy documents and is seen by the South African government
as part of its vision toward the transformation of African society.
The need to
eradicate poverty is seen as a priority initiated by Thabo Mbeki’s
African Renaissance. Diamond manufacturing is seen as playing an
important role in this regard. Up until recently raw materials such
as diamonds have not developed further into designer commodities
such as jewelry that adds value to a product. The South African
government envisages the need to proceed with a range of strategies
that beneficiates South Africa’s raw material. This is seen
as a strategy to bring more wealth into the country.
5C™ Diamonds
supports this strategy of beneficiating raw materials such as diamonds
and also addressing the unemployment and poverty that exists in
the country. Our company has therefore coordinated its efforts with
the South African government to set up small to medium business
enterprises (SMME's) that empower black South Africans. Besides
setting up SMME's the company is also involved in the training and
the sustainability of these enterprises.
