CORPORATE SOCIAL INVESTMENT

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OVERVIEW

uMngeni uThukela Water’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme supports socio-economic development initiatives
to improve community livelihoods. The entity’s investments in this regard are driven through an approved CSI
Policy. This ensures a co-ordinated approach in the implementation of CSI initiatives, which are prioritised in terms
of the following categories:

  • Programme Related Corporate Social Responsibility: This relates to those activities, which are submitted
    by various divisions as a way of taking total responsibility towards the business environment in which Umgeni
    Water operates;
  • Strategic/Discretionary CSI: These are initiatives that are implemented at the discretion of the Chairperson
    of the Board and the Chief Executive;
  • Targeted CSI Initiatives:
    These initiatives are those that would be submitted in response to the call for CSI proposals, from different
    targeted areas within Umgeni Water’s area of operations. Ideally, these initiatives will assist to build
    relationships in the areas where Umgeni Water will be rolling out Capex projects;
  • Legacy Projects: These initiatives are meant to live a physical and visual memento, for the communities
    to remember uMngeni uThukela Water, for years to come.

uMngeni uThukela Water’s categories of initiatives focus in the following areas:

  • Education, Training and Skills Development;
  • Job Creation;
  • Public Health and Community Support;
  • Environmental Conservation;
  • Staff Voluntarism and Support.
    To ensure that investments are aligned to policy, applications follow a thorough process of screening
    that entails consideration by the designated internal bodies to ensure that investments contribute and support
    the organisation’s strategic goals. A comprehensive process has been developed to institutionalise the processes
    and systems for the provision of social and economic development support and natural environment stewardship
    by the organisation.
    Umgeni Water has committed 1% of Net Profit After Tax to Social Corporate Investment initiatives.

WATER EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH

uMngeni-uThukela Water prides itself on the establishment of its water education and community outreach programme that has been running for over two decades now and has since provided a number of rural and urban schools and communities within our area of operation, with vast knowledge on water and environmental issues. These programmes are done to ensure that learners and communities understand our source-to-sea process, water and wastewater process, value of water, water conservation, sanitation, health and environmental issues.

Water, environment, health education and awareness were delivered through three target programmes during the reporting period:

  • Themed Activations;
  • Schools and Community Outreach Programmes; and
  • Adopt-A-School Programme.

THEMED ACTIVATIONS:

During the reporting period, four themes were created i.e (Servitude Encroachment, Water, Environment and Biodiversity), with the aim of educating and creating awareness on the importance of all four spheres and their impact. A total of 133 schools and 58 community groups were reached as part of uMngeni-uThukela Water’s efforts to promote community wellbeing, knowledge and environmental stewardship through these themed activations. Active learning through recognition of prior knowledge and guided questioning ensured that everybody that participated was kept engaged. During this period, 78 trees were planted.

SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMMES:

uMngeni uThukela Water’s education initiatives included outreach programmes to raise awareness around water safety, pollution, water conservation, climate change and environmental health. Programmes implemented included awareness events, clean-up campaigns and commemoration of special environmental day events.

The areas reached were as follows:

  • eThekwini Municipality: Bothas Hill, Isiphingo, Umbumbulu, Durban North, KwaMashu, Clertmont, Watercrest,
    Hillcrest, Bothas Hills, Wushwini and Hazelmere Dam Area.
  • uMgungundlovu DM: Richmond area and Vulindlela
  • Maphumulo LM: Sakhuxolo and Maqadini, Maphumulo CBD
  • King Cetshwayo DM Umlalazi LM: Gingindlovu and Naickerville
  • Umngeni LM: Midmar & Mphophomeni ; Lidgetton
  • UMdoni LM: KwaCele
  • uMzumbe LM: Turton and St, Faiths
  • Ray Nkonyeni LM: Port Shepstone
  • Mandeni LM: Sundumbili
  • KwaDukuza LM: Ntshawini-Dube Traditional Authority and Stanger, Stanger CBD and Mavivane River
  • Ndwedwe LM: Nsuze Ward 2,Glendale area-Ward 1, Nambithana area Ward 5and Esidumbini area –Ward 8
  • Greater Kokstad LM: Bhongweni Location
  • Impendle LM: Impendle Town, Impendle Village Impendle Swamp and Boston
  • Msunduzi LM: Imbali Unit 13, CBD- KZN Museum, Medi-Clinic Hospital, Sweetwaters, Pietermaritzburg CBD,
    Queen Elizabeth and Imbali Unit 1
  • Mkhambathini LM: Eston, Nagle Dam, Umlaaas Road and Camperdown
  • Richmond LM: KwaBhambatha Ward 2, Ophatheni, Moyeni , CBD and Agosay Hopewell
  • Mooi River LM: Mpofana CBD, Bruntville
  • Mshwathi LM: Swayimane/Gcumisa
  • Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma LM: Zashuke and Bulwer

Schools outreach engagements were conducted at 157 schools within our operational area. Five (5) Workshops for educators representing various schools were conducted in Clermont and Phoenix in eThekwini Metro, Canelands and UmlaziMtwalume in Mdoni LM, St.Faiths in Mzumbe LM, Mbalenhle in Mshwathi LM, Maqongqo in Mkhambathini LM: KwaPata, Elandskop, Vulindlela, Azalea and Mbali Unit 14 in Msunduzi LM, Emayekeni, Mzuzane & Ntaphuka in Ndwedwe LM, Stanger and Nonothi Mouth in KwaDukuza, Dokodweni and Melmoth in KCDM (Mlalazi) LM

ADOPT A SCHOOL PROGRAMME:

The schools identified during the reporting period wereadopted for a period of four years, which ended on 30 June 2023. The distribution of the 21 adopted schools included five schools within uMgungundlovu District Municipality, two schools within Harry Gwala District Municipality, six schools in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, one school in Ugu District Municipality and seven schools within ILembe District Municipality. Activities implemented at these schools included Arbor Week awareness coupled with 80 trees planted. Wetlands and Water Week visits included educational talks, audit, clean-ups and presentations. Various messages related to health and hygiene, environmental sustainability and water conservation were also shared with the public via our social media platforms .

INSTITUTIONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (ISD)

Institutional Support and Development (ISD) is one of the vehicles that the organisation is using to engage more broadly with the community and in ways that promote participation and collaborated decision making. This is due to the realisation that the organisation cannot solve complex problems without the combined efforts of the community it serves. Whilst there has been improvement and less project disruptions due to the early involvement of ISD and the Social facilitation teams, there is much work to be undertaken in the rollout of strategies that will ensure community buy-in when it comes to local business participation. During this financial year, twenty five (25) projects were supported by ISD. Twenty (20) of the projects were managed successfully without any stoppages. More than 669 locals benefitted as local labour whilst more than 69 local companies participated in local business opportunities that were created during this reporting period. There is a significant improvement in terms of overall community buy in due to the representative community structures like the Project Liaison Committees. More than 80% of the projects were implemented successfully, especially with the skills including shutter hand, gabions, drilling and toll operation which were offered to the local community. The presentation below shows that there is a significant decrease on work stoppages which reduces costs overruns and due to project delays

CORPORATE SOCIAL INVESTMENT (CSI) PROGRAMME

During the reporting year, the total CSI investment was R6.2 million. This represents an increase of 86% compared to that of the previous year.

UMngeni-uThukela Water supported 17 projects during 2021/2022 fi nancial year. Of the 17 projects, 10 had been approved in the previous financial years 6 approved in the year under review and one legacy project. Table 10.5 below shows projects supported in the reporting year.

Umngeni-uThukela Water 2020/21 CSI Projects

Project NameDescriptionFocus AreaSpendBenefiting DistrictStatus
Siyajabula High SchoolConstruction of toilets and drilling of borehole for drinking waterPublic Health and Community SupportR0eThekwini MetroService Provider appointed
Esidumbini Primary SchoolConstruction of toilets and drilling of borehole for drinking waterPublic Health and Community SupportR0iLembe District MunicipalityService Provider appointed
Lukhasa Secondary SchoolConstruction of toilets and drilling of borehole for drinking waterPublic Health and Community SupportR0iLembe District MunicipalityService Provider appointed
Support for Lebogang MashigoEducation support for an orphaned learner who was adopted by Umgeni Water Education, Training and Skills Development R18,000uMgungundlovu District MunicipalitySponsorship is ongoing
Mandosi Combined SchoolConstruction of toilets and water supply for the schoolPublic Health and Community SupportR500,465.61eThekwini MetroService Provider appointed
Duzi Adopt a RiverRehabilitation of 7.3 km of riparian zone along the Darvill loopEnvironmental ConservationR500,000uMgungundlovu District MunicipalityProject complete. Due to Covid-19, there were a lot of disruption in work
Phantane Athletics ClubFinancial support for a township based athletics clubPublic Health and Community SupportR600,000eThekwini MetroProject complete
Ncalane Family HouseConstruction of a house for the Ncalane Family who lost 7 members in a drowning incidentPublic Health and Community SupportR1,000,080iLembe District MunicipalityProject complete
Support for Nomfundo NcalaneEducation assistance for Nomfundo NcalaneEducation, Training and Skills DevelopmentR37,600iLembe District MunicipalityOngoing until Nomfundo completes her studies
uMzinyathi Water Tankers2 water tankers for wards 6 & 7Public Health and Community SupportR414,000uMzinyathi District MunicipalityProject Complete
UKZN RunRes ProjectConstruction of Dewat Sanitation System for a school in Vulindlela areaPublic Health and Community SupportR500,000uMgungundlovu District MunicipalityOngoing. The project was delayed due to Covid-19 and issues in the community
Water Tankers for eThekwini Water and SanitationAssistance with Water Tankers during Durban Heights water crisisPublic Health and Community SupportR500,000eThekwini MetroProject Complete
Water Tankers for Ngcolosi CommunityAssistance with water tankers after the April 2022 floods Public Health and Community SupportR1,000,000eThekwini MetroProject Complete
Water Tankers for UMDMAssistance with water tankers after the floodsPublic Health and Community SupportR500,000uMgungundlovu District MunicipalityProject complete
KwaNgcolosi Flood ReliefAssistance with blankets, Relief food parcels, trauma counseling, etc for KwaNgcolosi familiesPublic Health and Community SupportR267,215eThekwini MetroCounseling is still on going
Mandela DayVarious Mandela Day activities by UW DivisionsVarious focus areasR353,404.42Various WSAsOn-going
Nungwane Legacy Project Phase 2Provision of sanitation solutions for schools in the Nungwane areaEducation, Training and Skills DevelopmentR0eThekwini MetroService provider appointed