YeboYethu, the broad-based black economic empowerment arm of Vodacom, is looking for thousands of shareholders who are owed close to R74 million.
“YeboYethu has a number of shareholders to whom unclaimed dividends of R73 742 748 are owed,” Zarina Bassa, YeboYethu’s chairman, revealed in the company’s latest annual report.
“As a result of shareholders not updating their contact details regularly, we are unable to contact these shareholders, notwithstanding significant cost and efforts in trying to trace them.”
The Vodacom YeboYethu empowerment scheme was established in 2008 and allowed black people to purchase Vodacom SA shares at a discount.
This year marks the twelfth year of YeboYethu.
“During this unprecedented period of health, financial, personal and societal challenges that we are all trying to deal with, now more than ever it is important that those who earned a dividend, be able to receive and effectively utilise such funds,” said Bassa.
She added that this can only be done if YeboYethu has your correct details in order to pay the dividend.
“We need your help in order to pay out these unclaimed dividends. If you, your friends, colleagues or family are YeboYethu shareholders and have not received your dividends from 2014 please contact us using the following details or visit us at our walk-in centres, where you will be suitably assisted, to find out if there are dividends due to you and to ensure that your banking details are correct and updated.”
Here’s what to do if you suspect that you are due an unclaimed dividend
Contact the company directly
Contact us Call centre: 010 285 0090 (standard call rates apply) or 082 241 0001 (toll-free from your Vodacom cellphone) Fax us at: 086 249 1030 Email us at: support@yeboyethushares.co.za
Documents required
Change of details form – available on page 45 or can be obtained from the website or walk-in centres.
Identity document – certified copy of the green bar-coded South African Identity Document, Smart ID Card (both front and back) or passport reflecting the South African identity number. Certification should be done through a police station or through a Commissioner of Oaths that has a valid stamp stating ‘Commissioner of Oaths’. Certification should also be dated and not older than one year.
Bank account details – bank confirmation letter or bank stamped bank statement verifying the bank account details not older than three months, no third-party bank accounts are permitted. This is available on most banking applications. Proof of physical address – service bill or utility statement reflecting the shareholders’ name and physical address, certified by a Commissioner of Oaths, not older than three months. Should you receive your statements electronically please send the uncertified statement together with the original email from the service provider.
