Sasol works hard to ensure their fenceline communities teem with hardworking, vibrant and talented individuals, so as to be not only functional but thriving.
Social investment is an integral part of its growth strategy. Education and skills development are some of the focus areas in which they support communities.
Many of their achievements would not have been possible without key public and private partnerships. Through this advertorial, they would like to share with you the contributions that they have made in education and how they have impacted the lives of nearby communities.
Education
Education is crucial in securing economic and social progress. In collaboration with the provincial and local government, they have made a tremendous impact on education in South Africa, focusing on STEM education.
Sasol Secunda, through its education flagship, Osizweni Science Centre, collaborates with the Mpumalanga provincial government, Gert Sibande District and Standerton sub-region by providing resources and capacity building needed by schools.
Further support is provided to unemployed and out-of-school youth through various skills development (technical and vocational) interventions.
Impact
- More than 35 early childhood education (ECE) centres received infrastructure support, practitioner training and access to the Toy Library, benefiting more than 6000 children.
- More than 4000 learners are currently going through a reading programme called Rally to Read.
- In collaboration with the district Department of Education, Sasol spent more than R24 million to implement STEM Learner Support Programmes that support Grade 10 – 12 learners in mathematics, physical science, life sciences and accounting in Gert Sibande District.
- About 10 000 learners are supported through various programmes such as e-learning, aftercare programmes and mobile laboratories.
- 5000 learners from 39 schools within Govan Mbeki Municipality and Dipaleseng received support through our drug prevention and awareness programme.
Last year Secunda Operations hosted the Sasol Techno X, a STEM-focused career exhibition. The event, held in collaboration with the Mpumalanga Provincial Government, hosted 26 409 learners and teachers from six provinces.
The objective of the exhibition is to create awareness and enhance the love of mathematics, science and technology in the children of Mpumalanga.
For the past three years, Sasol has spent approximately R40 million and reached more than 72 000 learners from seven provinces. More than 900 local jobs were created for the unemployed youth and local small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME) also received job opportunities.
25th SASOL Grade 12 Merit Awards
On 16 January 2020, Sasol Secunda hosted the 25th Grade 12 Merit Awards. It is an annual programme where the company recognises and rewards grade 12 learners for their outstanding academic performance.
This programme encourages high academic performance and assists learners with study aid. From 2015 to date, the Sasol Secunda Grade 12 Merit Awards have supported over 381 learners with access to tertiary education.
The awards were for all top-performing secondary school learners in Govan Mbeki, Dipaleseng and Lekwa local municipalities.
The awards were presented to learners who obtained 3 to 9 distinctions and top achievers from Quintile 1 – 4 schools. A total of 97 learners received merit award certificates as well as cash prizes for their outstanding performance. Each top achiever received a sum of R15 000 towards registration at institutions of higher learning.
Learners who obtained more than three distinctions received R1 000 for each distinction. The awards also acknowledged the best performing mathematics and physical science teachers and schools as well as the most improved school in the Standerton sub-region.
The awards ceremony was graced by the presence of the Mr Bonakele Majuba, MEC of the Mpumalanga Department of Education and our partner from TMS, Sharp Shell, Encore Engineering Services and Megchem who are fully committed to collaborating with Sasol in ensuring that we provide more opportunities to prepare our learners for a successful future.
Sasol congratulates the learners, teachers and schools for their outstanding performance. As a company, we strive to contribute to improving the quality of education and building capacity of the education sector in the countries in which we operate.
Our focus on STEM subjects allows us to positively contribute to the development of the skills required to meet the demands of the growing economy and increase the economic participation of people in our communities.
