FILE PHOTO: Ithala SOC Limited CEO, Dr Thulani Vilakazi along with winners at Dundee July. PICTURE: Supplied
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0 DURBAN: The winner of the race course, Mr Lindani Dube walked away with R300 000 price money.
Ithala SOC Limited has achieved a milestone after it became a major sponsor of the Dundee July event which took place at eNdumeni this past weekend.
The financial institution which has invested its soul and resources in the upliftment of rural communities and economic growth, has further strengthened its efforts in promoting economic development.
The winner of the race course, Mr Lindani Dube walked away with R300 000 price money. He was in disbelief as he thanked sponsors and organiser after his Alfa and Omega horse leads him to victory.
“We would like to thank organisers, sponsors and the community of eNdumeni for their support in making this event a success,” said Mr Dube.
“We also wish to call other organisations to rally behind community development events like sponsors such as Ithala have been doing over the past decades. We’ve seen Ithala supporting events such as Nquthu June and this event – referring to Dundee July. Such demonstrations and commitments encourage us to continue to partake in these events,” he said.
Ithala also sponsored the Dundee July beauty pageant which was hosted in Majuba TVET College on Friday, 14 July 2023. This year’s winner Nothile Mpungose walked away with R15 000. She heaped praise on the organisers and sponsors such as Ithala.
“What made me enter this year was the fact that this event continues to showcase rural talent. Rural communities are often overlooked because of their remoteness but most of the talent is found in these communities, said Ms Mpungose.
The event which was graced by dignitaries from all over the Southern African region, was glittering with high-end fashion showpieces and creative displays from industry leaders. Those who participated in the event showed their delight when Ithala presented them with their winning prices.
Speaking about the event, Dr Thulani Vilakazi from Ithala said: “Our work was on full display at eNdumeni (where Dundee July took place).
“What I said to my team and stakeholders was that Ithala must demonstrate to the fullest its commitment by walking the talk. We did that and last month we did the same in Nquthu June where we built our relationship with communities from the lenses of ground-up approach,” he said.
Dr Vilakazi added that they will continue to support events that seek to improve our society through the participation of the community.
The financial institution current and potential customers continued to mingle with the Ithala team throughout the day getting to know more about its products and services. As fashion gurus were showcasing their taste in design.
Ithala is an advocate of rural development having shaped its focus to cement its position in the province by creating wealth for ordinary citizens. The financial institution which boasts about 38 branches in the province, has grown significantly in recent years. Its infrastructure is well-equipped to withstand the demands of customers.
Despite the challenges it encountered in the past years, it has grown from strength to strength. Its commitment to becoming a financially sound institution has seen the bank improve its governance structure by appointing all key positions. It has rolled out a major infrastructure plan which is designed to improve financial stability and provide easy ways of banking.
A pioneer in banking the unbanked in KZN, Ithala SOC Limited is the first financial services institution to provide banking services to townships and rural areas of KZN and provide a range of savings and investments products, insurance services and personal and home loan products to communities throughout the province.
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