Sasolburg – Sasol continues to prioritise the wellbeing of communities in the Free State and beyond through its Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Response Plan. The launch of the Psychosocial Support Programme marks a key milestone in strengthening prevention, early intervention, and psychosocial support services, improving emotional wellbeing, trauma recovery, and mental health resilience across its fenceline communities.
In alignment with South Africa’s international 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, Sasol introduced its Psychosocial Support Programme in the Sasolburg region on 3 December 2025. “We acknowledge that GBVF is a major challenge in the Free State. The Sasol Psychosocial Support Programme provides enhanced psychosocial support throughout affected communities,” said Gao Mothoagae, Sasol’s Vice President: CSI and Sasol Foundation
As part of the programme’s launch, Sasol is activating the “Sasol For Good GBVF Awareness Campaign” – an employee-driven volunteer initiative focused on increasing awareness of psychosocial support services available to community members. Volunteers will distribute informational leaflets designed to educate, empower, and reinforce prevention messaging, mobilising community understanding of available support pathways and encouraging early access to psychosocial assistance.
The Programme
The Psychosocial Support Programme was informed by a comprehensive baseline study, which included consultations with community members, non-profit organisations (NPOs), social workers, Thuthuzela Care Centres, SAPS Victim-Friendly Units, and other key service providers.
The study identified several critical challenges:
- Limited access to trauma counselling and psychological support, particularly for GBVF survivors, children, and vulnerable families;
- Insufficient and inconsistent referral pathways among local NGOs, government departments, and service agencies;
- High levels of emotional distress, anxiety, grief, behavioural challenges, and unresolved trauma;
- Significant need for community-level early intervention and prevention-focused psychosocial services.
In response, Sasol has developed and invested in a flagship Psychosocial Support Programme, now rolled out in Sasolburg and Secunda. Graduate social workers have been appointed to strengthen service delivery and provide direct, community-based support.
In the Sasolburg region, five social workers will deliver trauma counselling and render emotional support, crisis intervention, individual and family support sessions, mental wellness and psycho-education workshops, and referral services in close collaboration with government departments (DoH, DSD, NPA, DoJ, SAPS), local NPOs, and community structures. Dedicated community access points will be established in Sasolburg and Secunda, ensuring that beneficiaries receive support close to home in safe, accessible environments.
“The launch of the Psychosocial Support Programme reinforces Sasol’s commitment to improving emotional wellbeing, trauma recovery, and mental health resilience in Sasolburg and our surrounding communities. It strengthens local support systems and improves stakeholders’ capacity to respond to psychosocial challenges faced by GBVF survivors, children, and families,” said Mothoagae.
By encouraging collaboration among government departments, NPO partners, and service providers, Sasol aims to ensure the sustainable, effective implementation of psychosocial support interventions.
Aligned with the national 365 Days GBVF Response Framework, Sasol’s initiative promotes early intervention, mental wellness, trauma recovery, and long-term community resilience -demonstrating ongoing support for vulnerable individuals and a strengthened community-based response to GBVF.
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