The DTC's sorting, valuing and sales operations in South Africa have been merged into one company to create the single operation of DTC South Africa.
DTC South Africa sorts and values all of De Beers Consolidated Mine’s production. 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 diamond manufacturing industry in the country.
The company is part of a global DTC network that has offices in Botswana, Namibia and London. Based in Kimberley, DTC South Africa is focused on the improvement of local skills and boosting employment in the Northern Cape Province. This generation of employment opportunities in the Province promotes producer government objectives to grow the downstream diamond industry.
DTC South Africa has about 154 staff members, half of whom concentrate on sorting and valuing activities, with the remainder being support staff in areas such as finance and administration services.
The company is very much aligned to the South Africa government’s local beneficiation objectives, and engages in a range of activities that aim to further government’s wider economic goals.
These activities include skills development, marketing initiatives and promotion of South Africa abroad.
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
• 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 accredited 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 establishment of the academy is still on-going, and it is scheduled to open in 2011.
Supports and encourages new entrants into the South African downstream industry
• As part pf the De Beers Family of Companies, DTC South Africa facilitates the sale of up to 10% of De Beers Consolidated Mine’s production to the State Diamond Trader.
• 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.
With every Shining Light Awards competition, five education grants are awarded to underprivileged schools and community centers offering Jewellery Design & Manufacture as part of their syllabus.
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.
• In August 2008, KYA was transferred to an independent company which is now the sole owner and distributor of the brand.
Of the US$5.08 billion DTC global sales in 2010, US$470 million was sold through DTC SA (including sales to South Africa's State Diamond Trader (SDT).
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