Social Responsibility

South Africa’s long march to freedom started more than a decade ago yet it has far to go in terms of combating poverty, providing essential services and that most powerful of all passports to freedom – a better education.

Corporates, by investing wisely, can make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and entire communities.

At Spescom we believe in change through participation.

Our social responsibility philosophy is defined by two words: commitment and involvement. Our approach is results driven. Our primary criteria in the selection of social responsibility initiatives: they must deliver meaningful value – and be sustainable.

The key to achieving this, we believe, lies in direct involvement and providing access to our knowledge and resources… not just financial support.

• Matjiesfontein in the Karoo: Spescom funds the utility bills for Matjiesfontein Village Primary School. This input has served to put the school on a sound financial footing on which they can build. Moreover, it assists the school to utilise money brought in from fund raising activities to finance the upgrading of facilities.

• Roundabout Playpump initiative: This initiative, which delivers fresh water to disadvantaged rural communities, is supported by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. In 2008, Spescom installed another new Playpump – this time at the Tshapasha Primary School, near Messina in Limpopo Province.

• Midrand Child Welfare: Spescom’s head office is located in Midrand, where we have developed a relationship with the local Child Welfare services, which we support in the form of a monthly donation to be used towards covering running expenses.

• Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal: To address the lack of maths and science skills at school level, Spescom sponsors the transport of learners from the 40 outlying rural schools in the area to a central location in Bergville to enable them to attend extra mathematics and science classes as well as supporting the tutoring of teachers in conjunction with Wits Faculty of Engineering and the SA Institute of Electrical Engineers.
  
• Sonnestraal Nursery: This private crèche is located in Jamestown near Stellenbosch and provides day care to local pre-school children from a variety of backgrounds. Spescom staff members make monthly donations of food to ensure that these children have a healthy breakfast and lunch each day. A Christmas party is also arranged every year with each child being given a gift such as school bags, stationery, etc, by a Spescom staff member dressed up as Santa Claus.