Saab Grintek goes back to school to help future engineers

Issued by Meropa Communications for Saab Grintek
Johannesburg, 02 Oct 2006

The students and teachers of the Steve Tshwete Secondary School, situated in Olivenhoutbosch in Centurion, were in high spirits on 8 September 2006 after Saab Grintek donated R20 000 towards the school's science laboratories.

The donation was made possible through Zolile Kunene, the Chairman of Saab Grintek, which is the country's leading defence and technology company.

The plight of the school was brought to Kunene's attention by well-known comedian, David Kau, at a recent function hosted by Saab Grintek. Kau took it upon himself to tell the school's story, detailing the daily challenges it faces regarding its environment and specifically the hurdles it encounters in the field of science.

"This donation may appear to be a simple gesture," said Nomsa Sithole, Saab Grintek's Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Manager. "The world, however, is a platform for these children, from which they can make a noise and reach for the clouds."

Steve Tshwete Secondary School has made great strides since it was started in 2002. It bolstered its 60% pass rate in 2004 right up to 96.3% in 2005. In addition, the school also received the Mayoral Matric Achievers Award in 2004, as the most improved school.

"Since science and engineering is the backbone of Saab Grintek's business, it only seemed right to give these learners the opportunity to become the future engineers of Saab Grintek and the country," added Sithole.

Commenting at the handover, Principal Radingwana said: "We are extremely grateful to Saab Grintek. We believe the donation received today will uplift the school and take it to even greater heights. This support can not be simply measured in monetary terms as the support shown here today is about building the knowledge of our children."

Saab

Saab is one of the world's leading high-technology companies, with its main operations focusing on defence, aviation and space. The group covers a broad spectrum of competence and capability in systems integration.

Saab Grintek

Grintek is a leading empowerment technology company and employs some 1000 people, most of whom are engineers and technicians. The company is a privately held partnership between Saab AB (70.3%) of Sweden and Kunene Bros Holdings (29.7%). The group specialises in three main market segments, namely telecommunications and selected niche opportunities within industrial and defence electronics. Saab Grintek is a business unit of Saab.

Saab Grintek Technologies

Saab Grintek Technologies applies the group's core technologies in the ICT, transport and energy sectors through the development of its own products as well as partnerships and distribution agreements with world-class suppliers.

The division provides tailored and innovative solutions from initial project and business requirement consulting, through to implementation, integration, continuous support and training.

The company focuses on providing high-end communications solutions in the following areas: transmission, voice, data, wireless, convergence services, antennas, RF components, DC power systems, pre-payment electricity meters, electric load management systems and a full range of professional avionics and aeronautical electronics.

The division's solutions have been implemented in over 500 top South African companies and in more than 22 African countries. Over 25 leading international vendors have selected Saab Grintek Technologies as a South African service provider and partner. Saab Grintek Technologies' head office and support centre is located in Centurion, Pretoria, and it has full regional support offices in Cape Town and Windhoek.

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