SASOLBURG. – Sasol recognised 28 farmers from Sasolburg fenceline communities on completing its Bridge-to-Work Iphephe Farmer Development Programme.

The programme aims to reduce the high unemployment statistics in Sasol’s fenceline communities while tackling the challenge of food security with which the country is currently grappling.

Participants attended AgriSETA accredited training courses covering Livestock Production, Vegetable Production, Poultry Production and Farm Business Management that were offered by the project’s implementation partner, Buhle Farmers’ Academy.

However, the programme doesn’t only focus on the physical farming aspects, but takes the full production circle into account by also assisting the farmers to access markets to ensure that they can sell their produce and livestock.

According to Thuli Mbuli, Head of Community Affairs at Sasol’s Sasolburg and Ekandustria Operations, the purpose of the Iphephe graduation event is to recognise and applaud the participants for successfully completing this extensive developmental opportunity.

“The certification is expected to encourage others to seek out and embrace learnerships and other developmental opportunities that corporates and other organisations provide for the unemployed. These interventions are a critical bridge towards positioning the beneficiaries for employment or self-employment opportunities,” she said.

“Sasol remains committed to development and upliftment through supporting the creation of economic opportunities, particularly within our fenceline communities.  It is a privilege to congratulate all the farmers from the Sasolburg region for successfully completing this development opportunity. We wish them all the best and success in the next chapter of their farming businesses,” concluded Mbuli.