Sasol’s co-funding has enabled Ten MSMEs from the Sedibeng (Gauteng), Gert Sibande (Mpumalanga), and Fezile Dabi Districts (Free State Province) to be part of this green economy programme, which is aligned with Sasol’s commitment to driving inclusive sustainable growth and local economic development.  More information on the enterprises enrolled on the programme can be found here. 

Through WIG, participants gain in-demand skills and leadership tools from industry-leading experts in:

• Green Supply Chain Management
• Green Product Innovation & Development
• Green Construction & Waste Management Practices
• Project Management

To drive inclusivity, the programme has also been extended to male-led enterprises. They were selected for their commitment to advancing gender equity and mentoring women within their businesses and sectors.  Their inclusion reflects the belief that building a greener, more inclusive economy requires allies who are willing to share knowledge, resources, and opportunities.

WIG creates a space for women to lead, learn, and transform industries that have been male dominated. The initiative forms part of Project EMBRACE, which drives inclusive economic growth by strengthening Black-owned businesses in renewable energy, waste management, eco-innovation and green construction – backed by international partners through the IYBA-SEED initiative, funded by the EU and the governments of France, Germany, and Slovakia.

Well done to the Shared Value Management team for driving this business empowerment initiative.

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Hosted by the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency, a nonprofit organisation incubated under the Department of Economics, Development and Tourism, the agency is mandated to unlock economic opportunities in the province and support small and medium enterprises (SMMEs).

Sasol’s sponsorship helped make the event possible and more importantly, ensured innovators had access to technical mentorship, funding pathways, and networking opportunities. Through initiatives like the Green Innovation Challenge, Sasol aims to:

• Support community-driven climate change solutions
• Accelerate the development of innovative sustainable technologies
• Create meaningful employment opportunities across the value chain
• Promote inclusive participation in the green economy

Attendees included representatives from Sasol, government, academia, and business – all eager to invest in sustainable development and green job creation. Winners from the challenge were awarded support packages, mentorship, and exposure to potential investors, putting them on a fast track for growth and impact.

In his address, Sasol’s Head of Shared Value Management and Policy, Jas Govender, highlighted the importance of community-led innovation in addressing today’s environmental challenges. He says, “When communities are empowered to innovate, the entire country benefits. Events like the Green Innovation Challenge show us what’s possible when local talent is given the right platform and support.”

Through initiatives like this, Sasol is not only delivering on its own decarbonisation ambitions, but also enabling the growth of an inclusive green economy for South Africa. The success of the Mpumalanga Green Innovation Challenge has sparked new conversations about collaboration between industry, innovators, and government. As we continue to support and develop local talent, Sasol will remain at the forefront of driving sustainable, locally relevant innovation. Because at Sasol, our energy doesn’t just fuel industry — it fuels change.

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“As Sasol, our commitment to drive sustainable improvement in our fenceline communities is motivated by our core values and shared interest for the safety our people.  As we officially handover this road and satellite fire station infrastructures, we do so with a firm belief that this will ensure the safety of families on the road, and a quicker response time to veld and waste fires as well as at home,” said Rightwell Laxa, Senior Vice President at Sasol’s Sasolburg and Ekandustria Operations.

The 1.6km main road in Amelia was paved to reduce dust and improve road safety during high traffic volumes, particularly on a road that connects multiple townships.  The work included the provision of a pedestrian walkway, bus shelters, speed humps, road markings and signage.

Additionally, the satellite fire station project at the Harry Gwala Multi-Purpose Sports Centre in Zamdela was upgraded to accommodate a 6000-litre fire truck that is now stationed closer to the community – making the response time quicker.  Renovation work inside the station entailed the upgrading of office space, ablution facilities and the reception area, while a structure was erected outside the station to house the fire truck.

“For us as Sasol, safety remains a key priority; and in this instance, these two infrastructures will solidify the municipality’s response to safety measures and ensure that the local wards are better equipped to respond to and mitigate emergencies for the safety of all our fenceline communities,” concluded Laxa.

The stakeholders included Rightwell Laxa, Sasol Senior Vice President; Ntokozo Gcabashe, Natref Senior Vice President;  Mamohau Julia Maleka, Sasol Vice President SHE; Dr Thuli Mbuli (MBA) PhD, Head of Community Affairs at Sasol; Executive Mayor of Metsimaholo Local Municipality, Cllr Jack Malindi; Executive Mayor of Fezile Dabi, Cllr Dennis Khasudi and Ward 19 Councilor Lunga Mthetho.

Click here to read more #TreamSasol South Africa Sasol in Society initiatives.

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The purpose of the Council is to enable a thriving and sustainable energy sector for South Africa, thereby supporting a just energy transition, strengthening energy security and advancing inclusive economic growth. Its formation and ensuing work is premised on collaboration and co-creation by stakeholders from across the energy value chain, ultimately serving as the unified voice of energy in South Africa. It will play a leading role in driving stakeholder and policy alignment and assisting in addressing major issues in the energy landscape.

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) is a key stakeholder of the Council. Mr. Gwede Mantashe, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, delivered the keynote address at the virtual launch event.

In reflecting the diversity of the energy sector, the initiative is led by CEOs from Anglo American, Central Energy Fund (CEF), Eskom, Exxaro, Industrial Development Corporation, Sasol, TotalEnergies South Africa and Naamsa.      

Industry and business associations, such as Minerals Council of South Africa and BUSA, have endorsed the Council, having committed to working together to collectively address energy challenges that South Africa faces. To welcome and encourage membership from across the energy value chain, the Council is in the process of finalising legal and governance structures. While we have much work ahead of us, we are proud of what we have achieved thus far.

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The success of the Packa-Ching recycling business model has resulted in a partnership which saw Sasol coming on board as a key sponsor.  Sasol is currently executing a multi-faceted plastic sustainability approach to support the elimination of plastic waste leakage into the South African environment. Sasol reconised collection is a key component and hence committed in November 2019 to fund 25 additional Packa-Ching mobile units across South Africa. Sasol has now further expanded on its commitment by agreeing to a much-needed fuel sponsorship for all Packa-Ching business owners to assist them with their fuel costs.  

Packa-Ching is a mobile separation-at-source recycling service. It consists of a recycling collection truck and trailer that parks at different collection points within a community for a few hours each week and collects used recyclable packaging material from community members. Each Packa-Ching unit is managed by an business owner, who operates this mobile recycling collection truck and trailer. With logistics costs being a major factor in waste collection and recycling operations in South Africa, support with fuel costs will be very important to help these business owners build a sustainable business over the next 5 years, while reaching more of the community, allowing more people to trade in their recyclables.

“We are grateful for the support for our business owners and key sponsors who make Packa-Ching the success that it is,” says Mandy Naudé, CEO at The Polyolefin Responsibility Organisation (Polyco), who is the founding organisation of Packa-Ching.

“Our goal for Packa-Ching is to teach people within under-resourced and informal communities that waste has value when recycled. Residents bring their sorted recyclables to the Packa-Ching unit, have them weighed, and in return are paid directly into their eWallet via their cellphone.* Packa-Ching shows people that used packaging has value and selling recyclables becomes recognised as an income generating activity. The result is a cleaner environment and a more economically active community,” says Naudé.

If we can increase the participation rates in these communities, we can divert a significant amount of recyclable packaging material that would have gone to landfill as waste. Recyclable packaging that is lost to landfill is a lost value that could have been economically repurposed.

“Plastic waste in the environment is unacceptable and through our multi-faceted plastic sustainability approach, Sasol will focus its efforts to reduce plastic waste in South Africa in close cooperation with government, relevant industry participants and associations” says Thabiet Booley, Vice President (EVP) of Sasol’s Base Chemicals business.  “The elimination of plastics waste leakage into the environment combined with the successful implementation of a circular plastics economy in South Africa will create opportunities for economic growth for a wide range of stakeholders including individuals, communities as well as the downstream plastics and waste management industries” says Booley.

Since 2017 Packa-Ching has been responsible for more than 1400 tonnes of recyclable packaging being diverted from landfill and over R1 100 000 million that has been paid to  community residents.

The Packa-Ching business currently has four units operating in the areas of Cape Town in the Western Cape; Thabazimbi in Limpopo; Buffalo City in the Eastern Cape; Katlehong in Gauteng; with the newest addition launching in Newcastle in Kwazulu Natal at the beginning of September 2020.  Scaling up the success of this business model, Polyco aims to have a further 25 Packa-Ching units operating across South Africa by 2025. Sasol South Africa’s sponsorship of the administration costs required to implement and operate Packa-Ching, as well as fuel for all 25 recycling units over the next five years, will significantly help to achieve this goal and make this recycling business a success. The expected benefits of rolling out 25 recycling units over the 5 years will result in the collection of 70 000 Tons of recyclable waste to drive the downstream recycling industry, R50 million paid to communities as well as creating over 75 new jobs.

* This addresses the risks associated in dealing with cash. Users only need a basic feature phone and do not require a smart phone to make use of this service. The funds are immediately available to spend at participating merchants, including but not limited to, Shoprite, Checkers and uSave stores, to purchase airtime, to transfer to anyone in South Africa or to make a cash withdrawal.

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The project is a partnership between the DSI, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the Department of Defence, and private sector companies. In addition to it being part of government’s COVID-19 response, it is also integral to government’s vision to integrate hydrogen within the economy, motivated by the benefits that will accrue as a result, which include decarbonising the economy. 

Given its experience in the production and handling of hydrogen which it uses to produce liquid fuels, fuel gas and chemicals, Sasol has agreed to partner with the DSI and other stakeholders as part of its commitment to working with government in creating an economically viable hydrogen economy for South Africa. 

TEAM SASOL’S CONTRIBUTION

For this project, our team will be donating 10 000 litres of methanol and 600 kg of hydrogen every month until the end of April 2021 to help power the field ICU facility at the hospital. We are also working with Air Products and Protea Chemicals, to assist with logistics in supplying the fuels to 1 Military hospital.

“This is an important initiative for Sasol for many reasons,” said Charlotte Mokoena, Executive Vice President for Human Resources and Corporate Affairs at Sasol. “In addition to the fact that this contribution espouses who we are as Sasol and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to supporting and collaborating with government in executing innovative solutions to current challenges, it also illustrates the direction Sasol is taking. We are deliberately pursuing renewable energy sources through technology, innovation and collaboration, and sustainably produced hydrogen is integral to us reducing our carbon footprint across our operations.” Beyond this project, Sasol will continue working with the DSI in the process towards the development of a South African Hydrogen Roadmap. “We see public-private and private-private partnerships as critical in decarbonising South Africa’s energy landscape, whilst fulfilling socio-economic and sustainable development goals,” said Mokoena. 

Other partners on the project are the Bambili Energy Group – which is an entity that specialises in commercialising intellectual property developed through the Hydrogen South Africa (HySA) programme – as well as technology providers Horizon, Element One and Powercell Sweden. 

We are excited to share some of the initiatives Sasol is supporting across the Group to help in this humanitarian crisis click here.

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According to Bob Kleynjan, Sasolburg Operations Senior Manager Environment, both the giraffe cow and calf are doing well. The newest arrival is however still very shy and he will take time to adapt to his environment.

A decision to keep the Bongani Mabaso Eco-Park closed to the public was taken to allow the calf time to adapt to its environment. The calf’s mother is very protective of him and could present a safety risk to visitors should the park be re-opened prematurely. This is in the interest of the giraffes, as well as for the safety of visitors. Giraffes are very protective of their young and may become agitated if the calf is perceived to be in danger. There is also a risk that the cow can reject her calf while he is still dependant on milk from his mother. The well-being of the calf and impact of COVID-19 will be monitored. This will determine when the reserve can be re-opened to the public.

BIO-DIVERSITY

Sasol’s Sasolburg Operations manages two nature reserves in Sasolburg. The Leeuwspruit Nature Reserve is situated just outside Sasolburg on the R59, towards Parys, while the well-known Bongani Mabaso Eco-Park is situated in Vaalpark, with boundary fences on the R59 and R57.

According to Kleynjan the purpose of the reserves is to protect bio-diversity. Both reserves have a variety of animals and bird species. Some of the not-so-often seen mammals are the duiker, reedbuck and mountain reedbuck.  More common species in the parks include black wildebeest, gemsbok, zebra and red hartebeest.

Bio-diversity studies are done in the reserves, focusing on spiders, insects, frogs, reptiles, birds, mammals and grasses. “The purpose of the studies is to develop nature reserve management plans to firstly maintain the current bio-diversity in the reserves, but also to increase species diversity,” said Kleynjan.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT GIRAFFES

• When a baby giraffe is born, it drops up to 1.8m to the ground and lands on its head. The fall does not hurt the calf, but makes it take a deep, first breath. After an hour or so, it can walk on its own.
• When giraffe calves are born, the animals are on average 1.8m tall and can weigh anywhere from 45 – 70kg.
• Baby giraffes grow 3cm every day for the first week and will gain most of their height and weight in the first three years of life.
• A grown giraffe’s tongue is 50 – 53cm long.
• Giraffes only need four hours of sleep a day.
• Giraffes can run up to 56km per hour over short distances.

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We are proud of our unique legacy of leveraging technology to deliver positive socio-economic developments in South Africa, and are energised by the journey ahead, as we address the challenge of ensuring our long-term resilience.

Our approach is guided by our sustainability statement: “Advancing chemical and energy solutions that contribute to a thriving planet, society and enterprise.” This has been translated into four sustainability strategic focus areas, underpinned by our considerations of materiality and our risk-based approach, through our formalised governance structures. Furthermore the trade-offs between the six capitals are an integral part of decision-making while remaining committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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The weekends will be offered at the following venues:

Main Rest Camps

24-26 January, 2020

Normal Birding:  Crocodile Bridge (Ranger’s Ramble), Letaba and Satara,

Extreme Birding:  Punda Maria

31 January – 2 February, 2020

Normal Birding:  Mopani, Olifants and Pretoriuskop      

7 – 9 February, 2020

Normal Birding:  Letaba

Extreme Birding: Punda Maria

14 – 16 February, 2020

Normal Birding: Satara

21 – 23 February, 2020

Normal Birding: Punda Maria and Shingwedzi

The weekend cost is R3,795.00 per person sharing for main rest camps (with the exception of Crocodile Bridge and Punda Maria), R4,473.50 for Crocodile Bridge R4,048.00for Punda Maria.   Except for Crocodile Bridge and Olifants Rest Camps, a camping option, costing R3,220.00 per person sharing, is offered at the main rest  camps (with the exception of Punda Maria).  Camping option at Punda Maria will cost R3,473.00 per person sharing.  A single supplement of 20% is applicable.  All prices quoted include VAT.

These prices include: TWO nights shared accommodation, TWO dinners and 8 to 12 hours of bird viewing and game drives.  The drives are conducted on allocated SANParks vehicles and we cannot guarantee the vehicle size.  A birding expert will accompany each of the vehicles used, to assist guests with the identification of birds seen.

Bushveld Camps

First Weekend 23 – 26 January, 2020

Normal Birding:  Shimuwini and Talamati

Midweek 3 – 6 February, 2020

Normal Birding:  Biyamiti

Third Weekend 6 – 9 February, 2020

Normal Birding: Sirheni

The cost per weekend is R4,749.50 per person sharing for bush camps.  This price includes: THREE nights shared accommodation, TWO dinners and 8 to 12 hours of bird viewing and game drives.  The drives are conducted on allocated SANParks vehicles and we cannot guarantee the vehicle size.  A birding expert will accompany guests on each of the vehicles used to assist with the identification of species seen.  The price quoted includes VAT.

Bushveld camps have four-bed (two bed-roomed) cottages and bookings must be for a minimum of four guests or in multiples of four.  A limited number of two-bed (one bedroom) cottages are available at Biyamiti, Shimuwini, Sirheni and Talamati.

Please contact Norma on 011 476-3057 or westrandbirders@gmail.com if you have any queries.

Watch video to see what the Birding Weekends are all about.

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But until recently Metsimaholo had a severe problem with water. A big problem: it was losing large amounts of underground water and, with it, large amounts of money. Together with the municipality, we implemented a diagnostics project, leveraging the expertise of our water and project management specialists, to understand the root cause of this problem.

Water meters, consumption loggers and pressure reducing valves were installed in Sasolburg and Zamdela. This provided information that saw night-time water consumption reaching as high as 85% of daytime water consumption, which clearly indicated that water was leaking and being lost in vast quantities. The meters were able to transmit data readings to a central office at the municipality.

With detailed, location-specific information at their fingertips and with the tools to adjust water pressure in real time, council officials were able to remedy Metsimaholo’s “big water” problem. The results were profound and they were quickly realised. Within just a year of the project going live the council had saved R12 million – more than three times the amount Sasol spent on the programme. Savings which Metsimaholo continues to make. In 2018 the municipality reported that it had cut its water maintenance budget in half – to just R25 million a year.

Sasol have been wonderful partners with Metsimaholo. We really appreciate all the help they have given us and look forward to working with them for many years to come.

LINDIWE TSHONGWE – EXECUTIVE MAYOR, METSIMAHOLO LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

Over and above this intervention, we donated three mobile maintenance units to Metsimaholo to unblock sewerage and water lines. In 2018 Sasol spent a further R2 million on critical remedial upgrades at 11 sewerage pump stations.

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