JSE-listed Altron, celebrating 60 years of innovation, is calling for the rebuild of Johannesburg and reaffirming its commitment to the city’s future.

The technology company, which is showcasing the story of Johannesburg through a new lens as part of its commemorations, has, since 1965, invested extensively in local manufacturing and played a part in building key infrastructure in the city.

The company is now stepping up to play an equally important part in rebuilding the city through various partnerships, including an extensive one with people-powered movement Jozi My Jozi.

“Sadly, we have become desensitised to Johannesburg in its current form – degradation should never be something that we get used to. Seeing the city’s potential needs to be a burning platform for driving positive change, as individuals, as companies and as residents,” said Altron CEO Werner Kapp.

Altron believes in Johannesburg’s capacity for rejuvenation despite its current challenges, and noted that it is critical for business leaders and government to unite and make a sustainable difference by rebuilding the city.

As Altron embarks on its various initiatives, the company is “bringing to life” Johannesburg's story in collaboration with historian Michael Charton, author of "My Father’s Coat" and other historic narratives, by highlighting its role in South Africa's industrialisation and paying tribute to the business leaders and organisations who helped shape its growth.

“This powerful narrative, which will be performed to audiences throughout April, is set to inspire optimism around the city's revival. Commemorating our sixtieth anniversary by telling this story is significant because Johannesburg is the beating heart of South Africa’s economy.

“Altron’s story is intertwined with Johannesburg's history and this celebration is about reaffirming our commitment to the city's future.”

Kapp further pointed to positive momentum made by its subsidiaries, including Netstar, which is making a positive impact to enhance safety and visibility in the city through their SafeCity initiative with strategically placed License Plate Recognition and smart cameras across Gauteng.

Netstar is also working with Putco to enhance transport safety for their 260 000 daily passengers, using vehicle tracking along with cameras installed inside their busses, which has enabled the operator to reduce recorded accidents by 70% since implementation.

In addition, Altron’s FinTech business is empowering 10 500 small and medium-sized enterprises in greater Johannesburg to provide residents with access to safe, reliable and digitally-enabled microfinancing options.

With its payaway solutions, which include the South African Reserve Bank’s PayShap and ATM payouts, the group assisted its customers in paying out almost R7-billion last year, resulting in more than 4.1-million transactions, helping to create more financial inclusion in the digital economy.

“These are just some of the examples where Altron’s technology makes a positive impact on the lives of ordinary South Africans,” Kapp said.

Altron further aims to align key aspects of its corporate social investment strategy with the area of focus of Jozi My Jozi, which channels a deep passion for Johannesburg into meaningful change to help Johannesburg thrive again.

Altron will align its employee giving and volunteering initiatives to Jozi My Jozi’s projects; support beautification efforts to instil a greater sense of pride in the city; accelerate its investments in education to equip young people with the information and communication technology skills and career opportunities needed to participate in a modern economy; and create technology-enabled solutions through its Transformative Growth Forum and customer-led initiatives to solve some of the challenges faced by the city.

“Partnerships are the cornerstone of progress. By joining forces with Altron and other committed stakeholders, we can create a Johannesburg that not only meets the immediate needs of its citizens but also lays the foundation for a prosperous and sustainable future,” said Jozi My Jozi CEO Bea Swanepoel.

“Together, we have the power to transform this city into a vibrant, inclusive and thriving metropolis where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.”

“The next 60 years will be defined not by the challenges we face, but by the choices we make,” Kapp said, adding that Johannesburg has always been a city that adapts and evolves, and Altron is committed to being a part of that evolution.

“We are proud to keep doing what we do best aligned to our purpose – harnessing data, technology and human ingenuity to build a simpler, safer, smarter tomorrow.”

“Altron invites all stakeholders to respond to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call to rebuild Johannesburg. Together we can create a city that is not only resilient but also a beacon of hope and opportunity for future generations,” Kapp concluded.