News
Dec 13

Ditikeni acquires automation specialist Ana-Digi Systems

Automation specialist company Ana-Digi Systems has been acquired by Ditikeni Investment Company, the broad based BEE investor. The deal was announced today by Ana-Digi Systems chief executive Keith Gross, who welcomed the transaction as an important step in the transformation of the company.

Brothers Keith and Brian Gross set up the company in 1985. Ditikeni was brought in to ensure the ongoing continuity of the business. The brothers will continue to manage the company, but will now be able to nurture some younger professionals to fill their places one day.

“Although Ana-Digi is thriving as an importer and distributor of automation equipment from South Korea and Spain, the designing and installing of automation and power-saving systems for large mines and manufacturers has become a key focus of the company,” said Keith Gross.

“This project work is our strength because our professional team, working with the supplier in South Korea, can add enormous value to the project, at very reasonable cost. We have a large number of reference sites where potential customers can see our equipment at work.”

Ditikeni is 98% black-owned and 62% black women-owned and is wholly broad-based. It already owns stakes in a number of companies providing business services to industry and the services sector, such as Ovations Group, Caliba Group, and Adept Advisory. It also owns an interest in Astron Energy (the former Caltex) and in Ntsimbintle Holdings, which owns manganese mines in the Northern Cape.

Ditikeni has been operating successfully since 1999 and has 14 shareholders which are all non-profit organisations working in poor communities. It has thus far paid dividends amounting to R54 million to these needy organisations.

Ditikeni chair Sahra Ryklief welcomed Ana-Digi Systems to the Group.

“This is in fact our first substantial stake in an industrial company, and we are particularly pleased to be associated with a company offering such large energy savings. Our aim is to help Ana-Digi widen its customer base and we have every confidence that the management team will make 2022 and beyond a growth period for the company.”

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  • This press release was issued on Monday 13 December 2021.
  • Ana-Digi Systems is a supplier of industrial process automation solutions to all industries. The company has its head-office in Cape Town, South Africa and branch offices in North Riding, Johannesburg and Durban. More information at www.anadigi.co.za
  • The Ditikeni group was formed in 1999 by a number of non-profit organisations seeking financial sustainability. They aimed to participate in Black Economic Empowerment in order to create a capital base to fund their community development and welfare work. More information at www.ditikeni.co.za

Issued by HWB Communications Pty Ltd on behalf of Ditikeni. For media queries, please contact Martin Slabbert on martin@hwb.co.za or +27 79 500 1503. 

Ana-Digi Systems