SASOLBURG – Sasol continues to prioritise the well-being of communities in the Free State and beyond through its gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) response plan.
The launch of the Psychosocial Support Programme marks a key milestone in strengthening prevention, early intervention, and psychosocial support services, thereby improving emotional wellbeing, trauma recovery, and mental health resilience across its frontline communities.
In alignment with South Africa’s international 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, Sasol introduced its Psychosocial Support Programme in the Sasolburg region on December 3.
“We acknowledge that GBVF is a major challenge in the Free State. The Sasol Psychosocial Support Programme provides enhanced psychosocial support throughout affected communities,” said Gao Mothoagae, Sasol’s Vice President: CSI and Sasol Foundation.
As part of the programme’s launch, Sasol is activating the “Sasol For Good GBVF Awareness Campaign” – an employee-driven volunteer initiative focused on increasing awareness of psychosocial support services available to community members.
Volunteers will distribute informational leaflets designed to educate, empower, and reinforce prevention messaging, mobilising community understanding of available support pathways and encouraging early access to psychosocial assistance.
The Psychosocial Support Programme was informed by a comprehensive baseline study, which included consultations with community members, non-profit organisations (NPOs), social workers, Thuthuzela Care Centres, SAPS Victim-Friendly Units, and other key service providers.
Sasol has developed and invested in a flagship Psychosocial Support Programme, now rolled out in Sasolburg and Secunda.
Graduate social workers have been appointed to strengthen service delivery and provide direct, community-based support. “
The launch of the Psychosocial Support Programme reinforces Sasol’s commitment to improving emotional well-being, trauma recovery, and mental health resilience in Sasolburg and our surrounding communities. It strengthens local support systems and improves stakeholders’ capacity to respond to psychosocial challenges faced by GBVF survivors, children, and families,” said Mothoagae.
