With major projects under its belt including Johannesburg’s Gautrain and Areva’s Trekopje Uranium mine outside Swakopmund, SA BEE group Actom yesterday announced its permanent move into Namibia.

South African electronic engineering group Actom yesterday marked its official entry into Namibia, launching a new partnership agreement with the United Africa Group.
Actom Namibia, the company’s South African Managing Director Mark Wilson said, sees shareholding divided between the two groups at 60% to the South African mother company, and 40% to United Africa Group.

Despite only officially announcing itself in the local market this week, Actom has been active in Namibia over the past 12 years - doing projects with various mines and municipalities, including the Trekopje Uranium mine outside Swakopmund and the City of Windhoek among others.

With more than 42 operating units, 43 production, service and repair facilities, and 36 distribution outlets throughout southern Africa, Actom boasts as the largest manufacturer, repairer and distributor of electro-mechanical equipment and turnkey solutions in the regions. Besides South Africa and Namibia, it also has operations in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The company, Wilson said, employs more than 7 500 people, and has an annual order intake in excess of R7,5 billion at present. Before its rebranding in 2009, the company had been known as Alstom.

United Africa Group was founded in 1992 by the husband and wife team of Haddis Tilahun and Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, who currently serve as the company’s executive director and chairperson, respectively.

The diversified company is involves in, among others, the hospitality, financial services, property management and development and asset leasing, among which investments include the 5-star rated Hilton Hotel in Windhoek.