Networks Unlimited, an African value-added distributor of converged technology, data centre, networking, and security technology solutions, has announced a 53 percent broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) deal, which has strong educational and community upliftment leanings.

Networks Unlimited has announced the agreement with The Love Trust, a South African non-profit organisation that delivers excellent Christian-based education to vulnerable children in disadvantaged communities. The Love Trust was founded in 2009 and is committed to the idea that a values-driven education is key to a stronger South Africa. It currently operates across South Africa in the following provinces: Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal, the North West, the Western Cape, Limpopo and the Free State. To date, The Love Trust has reached over 9,000 primary and secondary beneficiaries in disadvantaged communities. 

Networks Unlimited MD Anton Jacobsz says the agreement has been specifically structured to have a strong focus on community upliftment and the education of young and vulnerable children. He clarifies, “Partnering with The Love Trust allows Networks Unlimited to improve its B-BBEE rating as a business, with further positive implications for those firms with whom we interact. As a company, the agreement has allowed us to be more focused on helping our partners to get better results with their procurement.

“Additionally, and of tremendous importance, this agreement allows us the further satisfaction of knowing that on a daily basis, we are also working to benefit some of the most vulnerable members of society across the country. This is because The Love Trust empowers community members and educates their children through its mission, which is simultaneously founded in truly honourable and charitable principles, and also operated according to business principles and with a proven track record over a decade.”

Jacobsz adds, “I am also very pleased to welcome on board our new non-executive director, Abigail Khuluse. Three things define Abigail: strategic thinking, a passion for serving as a catalyst for economic growth, and serious determination. Abigail is a seasoned business woman, who co-owns businesses in various sectors. She holds an MPhil in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management with the University of Pretoria; a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from the Gordon Institute of Business Science; and a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce, specialising in Law, from the University of Pretoria.

“Abigail is also passionate about youth development and volunteers on a number of initiatives that support the youth. She is a wonderful fit with Networks Unlimited as we embark on this new phase of our journey in which the upliftment of communities and the education of vulnerable children is so important.”

Jacobsz notes that, at this exciting moment in the history of Networks Unlimited, the company’s management had agreed that it was appropriate to embrace a rebranding initiative at the same time. “We are delighted to showcase our new logo for our rebranded company, which builds on the previous logo and thereby gives the nod to our history and the work we have both introduced and completed thus far. Our new logo underscores our commitment to offering continual technological innovation throughout the continent. We believe that technology and education must work hand in hand in moving communities and countries forward, and as we reveal our new B-BBEE agreement, we are therefore also proud to announce ourselves as ‘Networks Unlimited Africa’,” concludes Jacobsz.

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The Love Trust focuses on three areas, namely:

• The provision of low fee independent schools in disadvantaged communities.
• Early childhood development teacher training centres, offering NQF level 4 accredited training to teachers and principals from township and rural communities and giving them the tools for teaching young children.
• Early childhood development centre support to preschools and creches in communities of need.

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About Networks Unlimited

Networks Unlimited is a value-added distributor, offering the best and latest solutions within the converged technology, data centre, networking, and security landscapes. The company distributes best-of-breed products, including Attivo Networks, Cofense, Carbon Black, Fortinet, F5, Hypergrid, Mellanox Technologies, NETSCOUT, NETSCOUT ARBOR, ProLabs, RSA, Rubrik, SevOne, Silver Peak, Thales and Uplogix. The product portfolio provides solutions from the edge to the data centre, and addresses key areas such as cloud networking and integration, WAN optimisation, application performance management, application delivery networking, Wi-Fi-, mobile- and networking security, load balancing, data centre in-a-box, and storage for virtual machines.

Since its formation in 1994, Networks Unlimited has continually adapted to today's progressively competitive and evolving marketplace, and has reaped the benefits by being a leading value-added distributor (VAD) within the Sub-Saharan Africa market.