Page 74 - SAPREF 50 year

“In implementing the project we hoped to strengthen a love of books and of reading, because a love of reading is
the foundation of all lear”
ning.
– Lindiwe Khuzwayo
In 1992 SAPREF opened a Saturday School at its Training Centre, offering employees’ children supplementary lessons in English, Maths and
left, at the SAPREF Training Centre on the first day of extra lessons were, from left, Justice Cele, Jill Sachs (co-ordinator) and Karl Steiner.
Science for grade 7, 10 and 12 l
earners. Seen with Managing Director Henri Joubert, second
Corporate Social Investment
During SAPREF’s first 30 years, the company’s commitment extended mainly to its staff, and through them indirectly into the community. Education loans and scholarships were available, and training was given, including a ‘mini-tech’ — a pioneering effort at ‘bridging education’ designed to make equal opportunity really equal. An innovative home-ownership scheme for black employees was launched, and indeed charities and educational institutions received regular donations from SAPREF and/or its shareholders.
The net effect was that SAPREF was inclined to be inward looking. This all changed with the normalisation of government and society, and as democracy loomed, SAPREF became a key player in the neighbouring communities. Through its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme the community began to see SAPREF’s commitment to engaging and to being a responsible corporate citizen.
In 2001, as SAPREF’s CSI commitments increased, people with specialist skills were required and by 2004 there were four posts in what is now called the Sustainable Development department, including the important position of Community Liaison Officer. Today the company’s R13million a year social investment programme is predominantly focused on eight neighbouring communities. These are Austerville, Wentworth,
Merebank, Bluff, Umlazi, Lamontville, Isipingo and Fynnland.
The social investments focus very heavily on educational projects, especially literacy, maths and science education.
50th Anniversary Legacy Project: Books for All
To some having access to a book is something taken for granted, but to others, it is a serious luxury. It is for this reason that when 50 primary schools across KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) recently received a gift of a mobile library from SAPREF, the celebrations extended into communities surrounding those schools.
The 50 schools received the libraries as part of SAPREF’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Instead of confining the celebration programme
SAPREF: FUELLING SA FOR 50 YEARS
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