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Lefatshe Technologies Corporate and Social Responsibility Program
Introduction
Lefatshe Technologies is a black owned Information, Communication and Technology provider in the Southern African Region. It is committed to the realization of Government's Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment codes of good practice.
Lefatshe takes into consideration the responsibility of moral and ethical business practices that need special attention in the ICT Industry. Given our democracy and the social challenges we are faced with of high unemployment, poverty and economic exclusion amongst a few, are of major concern where businesses such as ourselves can play a pivotal role in contributing to building a sustainable job-creating and empowerment social environment for a better human kind.
Corporate Social Responsibility is compliance driven:
- Obeying the spirit of the law: being ethical, transparent, fair and having integrity.
- Remedying any operational harm companies do, such as harm to the environment
- Ensuring sustainable development which includes but is not limited to ensuring that natural resources in a way that does not deplete them or at least not deplete them unnecessarily.
At Lefatshe we focus on the below two areas:
- Local communities
- Commercial partners, suppliers, subcontractors and consumers human rights
At Lefatshe we understand that CSR behaviour can benefit the company in several ways:
- It aids the attraction and retention of staff.
- It can lead to a reduction in costs through re-cycling.
- It differentiates the firm from its competitor and can be a source of competitive advantage.
- It can lead to increased profitability in the long run.
- Environmental concerns at a global level.
Internal Initiatives:
1. Training
Understanding that there is a shortage of skills within the ICT Sector, Lefatshe Technologies has recently invested in an Internship Training Programme for Previously Disadvantaged Individuals (PDI). This programme has been in place from January 2007. This Training programme is for six months and the aim is to train and certify these individuals in the disciplines of A+ Hardware and N+. After successful completion of these respective programmes, the students are then hired within Lefatshe and form part of the Technical division, where they then obtain client exposure, interaction and further training (in house and external).
As a Company we have taken a different approach whereby on our Internship programme we train and employ PDI's with only Matric qualification and through the training programme they have an opportunity to become highly skilled technically.
The estimated cost per student is R35 000.
2. Managing the impact of HIV/AIDS in the workplace
"South Africa remains the worst affected sub region in the world, with data from selected antenatal clinics in urban areas showing HIV/AIDS prevalence surpassing 25%, having risen sharply from around 5% in 1990. South Africa continues to have the highest number of people living with HIV in the world: an estimated 6 million people. In South Africa there are approximately 2000 new cases daily."
The ICT sector and white-collar environments, in general, are complacent regarding HIV/AIDS; there is an unfounded belief that the pandemic only affects certain population groups and is only a business risk in terms of blue collar labour forces. Whether we accept it or not, HIV/AIDS will affect every economic sector and every industry type. Moreover, investors, labour unions, civil society, and governments are increasingly pressing organisations, especially companies, to disclose their performance and policies on HIV/AIDS management. Supporting the call for standardised HIV/AIDS reporting, the King II report states that the Board of Directors of every organisation should "regularly monitor and measure performance using established indicators," and "report on all of these aspects to stakeholders on a regular basis."
We need to ensure that we have the knowledge and tools to manage the impact that HIV/AIDS will have on the Company. Workshops are held to educate staff.
3. Office Paper Pick - Up program
The Mondi Office Paper Pick-Up Programme is a service to offices which provides a unique TwinBin to each workstation and a confidential shredding service. Free of charge.
This programme educates staff and involves them on a day to day basis in an effortless environmental programme. Mondi Recycling in partnership with you makes a generous donation to both SPCA and Hospice.
External Initiatives:
Social Development:
Company Picnic
Cell C's take a girl child to work day
As Lefatshe we participated in the Cell C's take a girl child to work initiative where we brought girls from Eqinisweni Secondary School. They spent day learning about the different departments in our company. This helped to open their minds as to the different career paths they can choose when they complete their Grade 12. This day was an eye opener for the learners as to the difference between school and work environment. Some of the staff also got to share with them how they managed to achieve their dreams.
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