Integrated energy and chemicals company Sasol notes that mathematics, science and technology play an important role in the country and, to compete favourably with developed and emerging economies, South Africa needs to produce ten times more engineers than what it currently does.

Sasol CEO David Constable announced at Sasol’s year-end financial results last month that the company invested over R600-million in South Africa in an effort to address socio- economic challenges in the country.

As a part of the R627.3-million invested in socioeconomic development, Sasol’s Techno X exhibition event provided learners with information about career oppor- tunities in the mathematics, science and technology fields.

With the main objective being to inform, inspire and motivate learners, educators and the general public and to deepen understanding of technology in all its forms, the event, in its thirteenth year, was held in Sasolburg from August 19 to 23.

“Sasol’s involvement in specific investments in the areas of mathematics, science and technology is key to closing the skills gap in our country and it is crucial that we engage and inspire our future leaders. Sasol participates in initiatives that support excellence in education. On a national level, these initiatives contribute significantly towards enhancing education, while expanding the pool of talent that we have available in the country,” says Sasol Sasolburg public affairs GM Ivor Zwane.

He adds that the Techno X exhibition is aimed at learners from Grades 7 to 12 and Sasol provided information on career paths and opportunities available in the field of chemical oper- ations. The learners gained knowledge and exposure to Sasol’s learnership progammes in the fields of mechanics, electrical instrumentation and processing. They could also apply for learnerships and bursaries at the exhibition.

Sasol’s bursary scheme is recognised as one of the largest and most competitive offers in South Africa, says the company. Boasting an all-inclusive pack- age, this scheme includes all tuition fees, provides the possibility of paid vacation work and an opportunity to work for the company after graduation. Sasol is an employer of choice among professionals in the energy and chemicals sphere and has been recognised as such by tertiary students.

The Central University of Technology, further education and training (FET) colleges Flavius Mareka, Motheo and Rostec Technical; the North-West University; the TechnoLab at the University of Johannesburg; the Tshwane University of Technology, the University of South Africa and the University of Pretoria provided educational information and conducted workshops for the learners at this year’s event.

“Sasol, and indeed South Africa, needs well-qualified people to build and strengthen the country’s economy in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. The learners of today are the mathematicians, scientists and engineers of tomorrow who will enable us to overcome poverty and reach the South African dream of a better life for all,” highlights Zwane.

Meanwhile, through its Inzalo Foundation, Sasol launched The Technical High Schools Turnaround Strategy in March, which aims to equip more than 5 500 matriculants yearly with appropriate skills and workplace experience. The strategy will be implemented by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) and several private companies at 41 technical high schools across Gauteng.

The Sasol Inzalo Foundation was established as part of South Africa’s single biggest black economic-empowerment equity transaction. Ten per cent of Sasol’s shares were tranferred into the hands of South Africans from designated groups in September 2007, with part of the transaction involving the allocation of 1.5% of Sasol’s shares to the Sasol Inzalo Foundation.

The foundation is a public-benefit organisation, governed by an independent board of trustees. Sasol notes that the foundation aims to drive excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education at all levels of the education value chain.

Speaking at the launch of the foundation early this year, Gauteng Education MEC Barbara Creecy pointed out that the strategy would raise the status of technical education in Gauteng and attract more high- potential, high-perfoming learners to a field that could directly impact on the skills deficit in South African industries.

The Sasol Inzalo Foundation partnered with the GDE and the John Orr Technical High School on a ‘Schools Improvement For Excellence’ initiative.

“After John Orr Technical High School was declared a “school of focused learning” by the GDE in 2011, we implemented a rigorous selection process to identify high-potential learners who had just completed Grade 7 in primary schools throughout the province. A total of 160 learners were selected and they became the Grade 8 class of 2012, the first class of the centre.

“This year, we have 142 Grade 8 and 161 Grade 9 learners. These are some of Gauteng’s brightest young minds and we expect to see them achieving at the highest level. We expect the same level of effort and achievement from all our learners, including the 426 learners currently in Grades 10 to 12. We have also made it clear to all the learners that we expect nothing but the best from them this year,” she explained.

Creecy highlighted that the transformation of the GDE’s attitude to technical education and its decision to invest more in technical high schools was the new thinking the country needed to boost the economy’s capacity for growth.

“Our unwavering focus on equity ownership, enterprise and socioeconomic development, employment equity, skills development and preferential procurement is delivering exceptional results well beyond the targets we had initially set ourselves,” highlights Constable.

Socioeconomic Investment in Mozambique
Sasol recently obtained approval from the Mozambique government for its natural gas project, in the town of Vilanculo, and held a sod-turning ceremony in August to symbolise the start of the housing project for the Nhamacunda Residential Village. The village accommodates employees working at the Vilanculo central processing facility and their families. The project will also serve as a catalyst for socioeconomic devel- opment in the new expansion area of Vilanculo.

Sasol, in collaboration with Companhia Mocambicana de Hidrocarbonetos (CMH) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), is following a phased approach for the expansion project and is on track to deliver the first houses in 2014.

The purpose of the natural gas project is to pipe natural gas to Secunda, in South Africa, for processing and onward distribution in South Africa for industrial applications.

“We are dedicated to infrastructure and skills development in Mozambique and this project is an important part of our invest- ment programme in the country,” says Sasol group executive director Nolitha Fakude.

She adds that the Nhamacunda Residential Village is a pioneering initiative and showcases the true value of partnerships. Fakude adds that Sasol is privileged to be part of this collaborative effort, which serves to further promote infrastructure and social development in Mozambique.

CMH chairperson Johan Kachamila notes that the housing project aims to create better housing conditions and attract more Mozambican qualified workers to join the gas project at Vilanculo, a project which will continue to contribute significantly to the Mozambican economy for years to come.

“The housing project is an important milestone for the central processing facility,” says IFC portfolio, global infrastructure and natural resources manager Jan Wehebrink, adding that this will be key for retaining local talent.

In line with Sasol’s strategy of creating sustainable legacies, the company and its partners are also considering ways of supporting Vilanculo through additional infrastructure.

Sasol notes that the eco- friendly, family-orientated residential village will be constructed using mostly local suppliers and locally produced materials. The housing complex will also incorporate local Mozambican architecture design elements.

“We have already seen significant strides made towards social and infrastructure development in and around Vilanculo. Partnerships have been the basis of our growth and success in Mozambique and we will continue to implement targeted programmes to ensure the holistic wellness of employees to benefit staff and the local community,” concludes Fakude.