LONDON -- BT today announced it has entered into an agreement with Sekunjalo Investments Limited, under which Sekunjalo will become a 30 per cent shareholder in BT’s South African business.

The deal demonstrates BT’s commitment to the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) agenda and will provide opportunities for both parties to accelerate their growth. The agreement is subject to approval by the South Africa Reserve Bank.

BT has been present in South Africa for more than 16 years and has grown the South African business to serve an impressive list of more than 300 clients, including several locally-based multinationals.

Sekunjalo was established in May 1996 as a black-controlled economic empowerment group to benefit previously disadvantaged individuals through job creation. The company is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

In 2006 Sekunjalo was recognised as South Africa’s Top Empowerment Company by the authoritative Financial Mail/Empowerdex Survey of Top 200 listed companies. The following year, the company was selected as one of the top 125 New Champions Global Growth Companies by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Sekunjalo has strong roots amongst historically disadvantaged individuals and community organisations. These groups form over 80 per cent of Sekunjalo’s shareholder base.

Brian Armstrong, BT Vice President, Middle East and Africa, said: “We are delighted to be able to partner with such a high-profile empowerment group as Sekunjalo. This clearly represents another milestone in BT’s development in South Africa and opens a whole raft of new business possibilities for BT.”

BT Group plc (NYSE: BT; London: BTA)