Sasol Secunda Operations: Partnering for education enhancement

Partnering with our communities

As a responsible corporate citizen, Sasol continues to meaningfully invest in communities close to its operations with the main objective of sustainably contributing to the broader socio-economic development of the Mpumalanga province. These include: enabling access to tertiary education, promoting STEM education at schools and bolstering the pool of technical, vocational and
STEM-related skills.

All these are done through active engagements and collaboration with stakeholders and partners to ensure sustainable value co-creation in local communities. Following below is more information on Sasol’s investment in education related initiatives and programmes.

Sasol grade 12 merit awards

Sasol actively partners with government in driving socio- economic transformation and nation building through its Social Investment department. One of the company’s strategic focus areas is education as an enabler to improve the lives of the communities around its operations. Sasol and Osizweni Education and Development Centre, its education flagship, are committed to giving full support to the education fraternity. One of the priorities is to assist
the department in delivering quality Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.
Sasol, together with Osizweni, has for the past 23 years been sponsoring the Grade 12 Merit Awards in Govan Mbeki Municipality.

The Merit Awards recognises the best performing learners, teachers and schools (particularly those who performed well in Mathematics and Science) from the Govan Mbeki,
Lekwa and Dipaleseng municipalities. The awards are given out to learners who have obtained 3 – 7 distinctions as well as the overall top achievers from quintile 1 -3 schools (non-fee schools) and quintile 4 schools. The best performing teachers and most improved schools are also awarded.

A total of 100 learners received Merit Award certificates during the event held on 12 January 2018 as well as cash prizes for their outstanding achievements. Top achievers received a sum of fifteen thousand rands towards registration at institution of higher learning and learners who obtained distinctions received a thousand rand per distinction. Our learners of today are the industry leaders of tomorrow and we wish them well in their future endeavors.

Sasol bursary scheme

Sasol has established a reputation in the market as an excellent employer with exceptional opportunities for talented individuals. The Sasol bursary scheme is thus highly competitive. It is a talent based scheme aimed at attracting exceptional individuals to the company. The number of bursaries awarded each year is dependent on the business need. Consequently, failure to secure a Sasol bursary is not necessarily due to poor performance on the part of the applicant but may be a reflection of insufficient business demand.

The majority of bursaries awarded are in the engineering and science fields listed under fields of study.

Fields of Study:
The Sasol bursary scheme offers bursaries on the basis of a service binding contract after graduation for a period equal to the tenure of the bursary. Applications may be submitted for one of the following fields of study:

What does a Sasol bursary include?

The Sasol bursary is a comprehensive bursary which includes the following:
• 100% of the prescribed university tuition fees, registration fees and exams fees.
• An amount equal to the average rate for accommodation in a single room at a university hostel at the university at which the Sasol bursar is studying.
• This rate is determined by Sasol in conjunction with the university.
• An amount for meals based on three meals per day as determined by the university.
• An amount towards book and pocket money.

The Sasol bursary minimum criteria

Students already at University need to obtain a minimum 50% pass in all subjects, the year preceding the application.

How does a prospective applicant apply for a bursary?

Apply online at www.sasolbursaries.com or contact the call center on 0860 106235.

Applications open January and close 30 April each year.

“Bring a child to work” initiative

This initiative hosted by Sasol is aimed at exposing learners to Sasol career options. In 2017 the company hosted two “Bring a Child to Work” events in May and October to create awareness on the various career opportunities available
in the operations environment. During the events the learners were presented with an overview of the Sasol processes, toured a Sasol Mining mock mine, experienced a virtual reality tour of the plant as well as a guided plant tour to experience the various careers and workplaces.

The first event in May was attended by 64 learners from local district schools and 18 of these learners were children of Sasol employees. The intent of the second event was to only accommodate children of Sasol permanent and non-permanent employees. Employees were invited to register their children to partake in this insightful and exciting event. This was indeed a great opportunity for learners where valuable information was shared to assist in their career choices, also to inspire them to reach for their dreams and to grasp every opportunity to grow and develop their natural talent.

Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre infrastructure and educational toy support

Some schools in Sasol’s fence line communities are currently under-resourced with basic needs such as classrooms. Learners are being taught in overcrowded classrooms which compromises on their learning quality and similarly teachers find it difficult to control learners in overcrowded conditions. This impacts negatively on quality education.

Sasol, in its quest to enhance education across all levels, supports Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in communities around its operations with infrastructure resources, reading books and educational toys . This is done with the objective of creating a strong foundation in the formative years of young children’s lives. These ECD initiatives positively shape the future of young leaders at foundational phase so as to perform better throughout their
school careers.

The below listed distressed schools, identified by the Department of Education’s district office, have benefitted from this initiative:
• Kinross Kuhle Kwethu: 1493 learners and 105 Grade R learners
• Leslie SS Mshayisa: 1035 learners and 36 Grade R learners
• eMbalenhle Vukuzithathe: 1493 learners and 105 Grade R learners
• Grootvlei Tokoloho: 115 grade R learners who are currently learning in Wendy house wood structures
• Jandrell Thandeka: 1235 learners and 114 grade R learners

Sasol recently held a handover ceremony for a new mobile classroom along with educational toys to the Kuhle Kwethu Day Care and Pre-school in Kinross. The ECD requested donation through Sasol’s Social Investment Funding Committee structure.

The Kinross Kuhle Kwethu Day Care and Pre-school have 95 learners that are accommodated in a Wendy house wood structure. The new mobile classroom accommodates and provides a conducive learning environment for Grade R learners and is also used as a sick bay to improve the overall day care facilities. Five other mobile classrooms were donated to ECD phase learners in Govan Mbeki, Lekwa and Dipaleseng.

Osizweni Toy Library

The Osizweni Science Centre Toy Library provides an exciting space for discovery and learning. Educational materials are varied and engaging from puzzles, toys to easy-to-follow computer-based activities.

Children are placed in two age groups, three to four and five to six, and their journey of exploration and play is guided by trained practitioners as well as other key staff. As children navigate through the different educational tasks, they develop cognitive, social, psychological and physical skills in a fun and interesting way.

As well as stimulating literacy and numeracy skills that bring the world of Mathematics and Science to life, children develop fundamental, life-essential skills such as sustained concentration, resilience, social cohesion and selfconfidence. As part of our efforts to reach more children in the early developmental years, the Osizweni Science Centre Toy Library loans educational materials to a number of day-care centres in the region.

Osizweni | Project A

Project A supports academically deserving eMbalenhle students in their last two vital years of high school, from the moment they begin Grade 11 until they leave school after Grade 12. The learners are transported from school in the afternoons to the Osizweni Science Centre where they receive educational support. This covers a range of activities including workshops, hands-on experiments, computer-based tutorials, industry visits, educational tours, computer literacy and life-skills programmes, and career guidance.

Through Project A, these learners exit the school system at Grade 12 level with quality results in Mathematics and Science with university bursaries or admissions. The Project A students contribute to a growing pool of prospective graduates for STEM-related careers.

Osizweni | Saturday schools

In collaboration with the Department of Education, Osizweni has set up 10 Centres of Excellence in the Standerton sub-region which focus on Grade 12 learners. There are five centres in the Govan Mbeki region, four in Lekwa and one in Dipaleseng. Comprehensive, well-structured teaching programmes are conducted every Saturday throughout the school year. The Saturday classes focus on four key subjects: Mathematics, Physical Science, Life Science and
Accounting.

Osizweni | Mobile laboratory

Osizweni brings the World of Science to the doorsteps of schools in the Standerton Sub-region. The well-equipped Mobile Laboratory travels to schools to conduct prescribed Science experiments along with the participation of students. Practical work is essential for conceptual knowledge of Science and contributes to students’ assessment marks.

Secondary schools in the region can request a visit from an Osizweni Science Centre Mobile Laboratory. This is a fun, educational event for the students and the arrival of a Mobile Laboratory is always a highlight for the school.

To find out more about the Osizweni Science Centre visit www.osizweni.org.za,
call 017 689 2006 or email info@osizweni.org.za.