In this section
Socio-Economic Development Initiatives
Our socioeconomic development (SED) initiatives are rooted in supporting and investing in communities in which the Group operates. We continuously improve the quality of peoples' lives one project at a time - from our bursary scheme for medical students to refurbishing schools to create normal learning environments for township and rural school learners. We seek to establish long-term relationships with all the organisations we support and we aim to make a sustainable impact on our beneficiaries.
The Group invested over R3.5 million in SED initiatives, which amounts to 1% of NPAT.
Current SED projects
We have allocated 1% of NPAT to flagship projects into which we plan to channel a significant portion of our budget over three to five years.
The key projects in 2019 included:
Vision for Change |
AfroCentric and Vision for Change are committed to changing the lives of South African children, mainly in rural and disadvantaged communities. In collaboration with the DoH, we conducted eye screenings for learners at two schools in the Eastern Cape and two schools in Limpopo. Learners with visual impairments were further tested, and those in need of prescription glasses were fitted with spectacles in November 2018 and January 2019.
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Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital School |
AfroCentric supports the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital School and maintains a good relationship with the hospital for the learners' wellbeing. AfroCentric donated a bus to the school because it could not transport learners to excursions and educational activities and often had to incur costs of hiring public transport. The school bus is safer as it can be used to fetch learners from their homes and transport them to school. |
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Emfundisweni Primary School project |
AfroCentric funds infrastructure, classrooms and office equipment upgrades at Emfundisweni Primary School. On 22 February 2019, the Group distributed over 1 300 school backpacks and stationery to learners and teachers. |
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Eluthandweni Maternity Clinic |
AfroCentric supports Eluthandweni Maternity Clinic with infrastructure and equipment. Eluthandweni hosts an annual breast cancer walkathon which AfroCentric has supported since inception. |
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Adopt a School Foundation |
AfroCentric partnered with Adopt a School, an entity of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, to build ablution facilities and implement the health sanitation and sexual awareness programme in rural Eastern Cape. We identified Dutyini Junior Secondary School as the school we would support in 2019. Our investment included the construction of an ablution facility to provide a safe and hygienic space for learners, and a health, sanitation and sexual awareness programme which supports sound hygiene practices and informed life choices. |
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Inanda Community Health Centre |
The Inanda Community Health Centre services a large catchment area with an estimated population of over 160 000. Of the 38 786 households, unemployment is currently around 43% with the average monthly income estimated at R1 600. Although HIV and TB are a serious concern in the area, it is reported that trauma caused by motor vehicle accidents and acts of violence account for more than 50% of mortalities at the clinic. The facility management believes that with the right medical equipment they would be able to provide more efficient services to their patients and bring the mortality rate down to 20%. AfroCentric donated the medical equipment required to action the anticipated decline in mortality. |
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Outlook/future focus areas
AfroCentric strengthened its support for school children in disadvantaged communities, and prioritised the following focus areas:
Easier access to schools;
Improved eyesight; and
Improved learning environments.
The Group strives to make a difference through healthcare initiatives and projects around the country by investing in small businesses in the healthcare sector, creating jobs and assisting SMMEs to become sustainable. This socioeconomic strategy supports the Group’s vision to empower greater access to sustainable, affordable and quality healthcare.