A KLOOF conservation organisation was recently recognised with a prestigious award for their Social Employment Fund (SEF) work.

The African Conservation Trust (ACT) received a trophy for innovation, presented by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) at a Gauteng event, in the presence of their peers, or 37 Strategic Implementing Partners (SIPs).

In attendance at the Sandton Sun hotel were ACT’s founder and chairperson Carl Grossman; CEO Francois du Toit; and national co-ordinator Sandile Mathenjwa.

ACT implements food security, environmental and heritage conservation projects in partnership with the SEF, an IDC-managed mass employment programme under the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES).

SEF aims to compensate work for the common good and establish a community of care in the country, brought about by civil-society partnerships targeting Gender-Based Violence mitigation, litter collection, teacher aide training and more. The fund requires SIPs to partner with smaller civil entities to further expand the programme’s community impact.

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To this end, and in addition to their own projects, ACT collaborates with several NPOs in support of the 2500 participants in five provinces: KZN, Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and the Western Cape. Those participants engaged in agroecological farming earn a SEF stipend and keep the produced food or sell it for profit.

Du Toit said the focus is on creating sustainability for participants through entrepreneurship.

“Our supported groups have proven themselves as innovative, production-oriented and income generating.

We actively share lessons learned from them and others in the programme across provinces, so that collectively we grow and build a better society. This project is about the common good and we are proud of what our community partners have achieved.”

Along with food security aims, the NGO’s KZN heritage conservation goals include monitoring of rock art sites in the Drakensberg, where ACT trains community custodians.

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In the amaZizi and amaNgwane traditional authority areas, neighbouring the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park, 130 rock sites are identified as endangered by wind effects, plant growth, or graffiti.

Grossmann said rock art holds heritage value for the nation and that the community custodian project has achieved more than 700 site visits.

“The project extends image longevity, because the sites are regularly monitored, according to a schedule. While doing so the SEF participants receive a stipend as they are doing work for the common good.”

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