CSI Legacy Awards - Simphiwe Mtetwa

Awards

Afrika Tikkun Recognised as a Finalist in the Best NGO Category for Transformative Youth Empowerment

Awards

LUSA: A Finalist for the CSI Legacy Awards in the Best Social Enterprise Category”

Awards

Columba Leadership: Nurturing Youth Empowerment and Leadership for South Africa’s Future

ABOUT THE AWARDS

The CSI Legacy Awards stand as a prestigious celebration of excellence in Corporate Social Investment (CSI) in South Africa. This annual event honours the remarkable efforts of organisations and individuals who have made significant contributions to addressing the country’s pressing challenges of poverty, inequality, and unemployment. By recognising and amplifying the impact of these initiatives, the awards inspire a continued commitment to meaningful change.

The judging process is a cornerstone of the Awards’ integrity. Submissions are anonymised to ensure unbiased evaluations, with judges working independently from various locations across the country. This decentralised approach guarantees impartiality and enables a fair assessment of the outstanding projects submitted. Only the highest-scoring entries progress, culminating in the recognition of top achievers across five key categories: Best Corporate, Best NGO, Best Rising NGO, Best Woman in CSI, and Best Social Entrepreneur.

JUDGES & ADJUDICATORS

The CSI Legacy Awards entries are assessed by the most esteemed figures in South Africa’s Corporate Social Investment and Responsibility sector. This panel includes respected CSI champions, commissioners, corporate executives, captains of industry, CEOs of leading NGOs, social impact experts, and influential thought leaders.

Steven Zwane (ABSA)

Managing Executive: Corporate Affairs

Jodi Scholtz (Commissioner)

National Lotteries Commission

Eric Leong Son (Heineken South Africa)

Head of Sustainability

Tebogo Molefe

CSI Manager: IDC

Reana Rossouw (Next Generation)

Director & Founder

Noluthando Mvabaza (Road Accident Fund)

CSI Manager: RAF

Alef Muelenberg (Rhiza)

Chairman: Rhiza Babuyile

David Barnard (Consultant)

Board Member: One Foundation

TInumzi Lubelwana (SAB)

Regional Corporate Affairs Mananger

Julia Sotirianakos (CEO)

Reach For A Dream

MEET YOUR 2025 CSI LEGACY AWARDS FINALISTS

BEST CORPORATE CATEGORY

Kellanova

Kellanova, previously Kellogg’s, is an innovative and agile company with promise and the possibility of continued growth. It upholds its founder’s dedication to people and their well-being. Kellanova is starting its journey from a position of strength rooted in a more than 100-year legacy. From that same legacy, the company is guided by the Kellanova Better Days Promise to create better days and a place at the table for everyone through our trusted food brands.

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KFC

KFC South Africa, part of Yum! Brands, has been a household name since 1971, offering its signature fried chicken made with Colonel Sanders' secret recipe. With over 1,000 restaurants nationwide, it is a leader in the fast-food industry, known for its quality, innovation, and strong community ties. The *Add Hope* initiative stands out, feeding thousands of children through partnerships with local NGOs and addressing hunger across the country. KFC also champions local sourcing, supporting South African farmers and suppliers. Combining global standards with a local touch, KFC South Africa remains a beloved brand, making a positive impact on communities nationwide.

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Santam

Founded in 1918, the South African National Trust and Assurance Company Limited (Santam) is South Africa’s leading provider of short-term insurance, holding a market share exceeding 22%. Operating through a network of 2,700 intermediaries and direct channels, Santam delivers a comprehensive range of non-life insurance products and services across southern Africa and internationally. Serving over a million policyholders, including individuals, institutions, and small and specialised businesses, the company is committed to sustainable business practices. While its foundation lies in supporting small and medium enterprises, Santam also collaborates with corporates to drive meaningful social impact initiatives.

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BEST RISING NGO CATEGORY

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Safer South Africa

Founded in 2012, Safer South Africa works to empower under-resourced communities by raising awareness and fostering collaboration to combat crime. We believe that preventing crime before it occurs is the most effective approach. Partnering with the security sector, the Department for Education, and other organisations, we enhance understanding of community safety issues and strengthen relationships between communities and law enforcement. Our youth-focused crime prevention initiatives aim to deliver both social and economic benefits. By addressing critical safety and security challenges, our interventions create opportunities for children to achieve their full social, educational, and economic development potential.

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MiDesk

The MiDesk is a multifunctional schoolbag that transforms into a desk, chair, solar light, and USB charger, allowing children to transport a dedicated learning space between home and school. This innovation can improve academic performance by up to 48%, addressing a critical need as over 3 million children in South Africa, and millions more globally, lack access to desks. Proudly South African and aligned with six UN Sustainable Development Goals, MiDesk promotes educational equity and sustainability in underserved communities. Made from recyclable materials, its durable design ensures a stable, eco-friendly workspace that fosters both learning and self-esteem.

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Sihle Mooi - Hotel Hope - Best Rising NGO

Hotel Hope Ministries

Hotel Hope Ministries is a registered South African non-profit organisation dedicated to ensuring every child grows up in a safe, happy, and healthy home, enabling them to develop into responsible, positive adults. While children remain our primary focus, we take a holistic approach to addressing the issue of orphaned and abandoned children. We recognise the importance of tackling the root causes, not just the symptoms. To this end, we run projects aimed at supporting mothers and fathers, empowering them to care for themselves and their children, ultimately creating stronger, more stable families and communities.

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BEST WOMAN CATEGORY

Business Engage

Colleen Larsen, widely known as "Col," is the Chief Executive of Business Engage. Col, a leading advocate for gender mainstreaming founded Business Engage in 2005 to position Africa as a global hub for gender mainstreaming. Under her leadership, Business Engage has united 115 companies across nine African countries, aiming to position Africa as a global leader in gender mainstreaming. She launched the Gender Mainstreaming Awards in 2013, now in its 12th year, celebrating corporate and individual achievements across the continent. As President of the 30% Club Southern and East Africa, she champions women’s representation on boards. Col is also the author of two books: Gender Matters: A Practical Response to the Slippery Ladder and The Board Masterclass Series.

Explore Colleen Larsen's Work

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Captain Londy Ngcobo

Captain Londy Ngcobo, fondly known as The Black Mermaid, is South Africa’s first female Dredge Master and a trailblazer in the maritime industry. With over 14 years of experience navigating international waters, she has become a symbol of empowerment, breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field. Londy is also a maritime strategist and an inspiring public speaker, devoted to encouraging the next generation to pursue careers within the blue economy. Through her work, she champions diversity, inclusion, and the vital importance of African representation in global maritime leadership, leaving an enduring legacy in the industry.

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Tersia Mdunge (Santam)

Tersia, a highly accomplished professional with a Master’s in Social Work and over 20 years of Corporate Social Responsibility experience, has significantly shaped impactful CSI programmes aligned with organisational values. Her academic journey, including lecturing at renowned South African universities, reflects her dedication to education and social change. She embodies the vision of Santam, South Africa’s leading general insurer. For over 100 years, Santam has empowered over 1 million policyholders through innovative insurance solutions, enabling them to focus on their hopes and dreams. Together, Tersia and Santam share a commitment to safeguarding communities and fostering a future of freedom and possibility.

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BEST SOCIAL ENTERPRISE CATEGORY

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Reforge Consulting

Reforge Consulting focuses on bringing about impactful social change in impoverished rural communities. We do this by bringing together multiple stakeholders (community-based organisations, private and corporate donors, non-profit organisations, and state-owned enterprises) interested in supporting communities that they would otherwise not reach. We do this because many social service projects, particularly in under-resourced communities, often do not have the resources, nor the capacity, to tap into mainstream funding pools. We prioritise Early Childhood Development which we see as a necessary pre-requisite for life-long learning, health and achievement, and key to redressing historical disadvantages that feed poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion.

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Rhiza Holdings

Rhiza Ventures is an innovative entity holding interests in five for-profit impact businesses across diverse sectors. As a subsidiary of the Rhiza Group, it capitalises on the impactful legacy Rhiza has established as a trusted community brand in health, agriculture, education, skills, and enterprise development. Rhiza Ventures ensures sustainability for sector-specific initiatives while empowering communities to engage in the economy, breaking free from failing systems. Complementing Rhiza Babuyile’s focus on development and production, Rhiza Ventures drives trade and reinvestment, completing the Rhiza Cycle. This approach fosters self-sustaining economies, effectively disrupting the cycle of generational poverty.

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Lusa Social Entrepreneurship Institute

Lusa Social Entrepreneurship Institute (SEI) is a Level 2 BBBEE contributor and a SETA-accredited, Comensa-recognised training provider with over 30 years of experience in promoting practical learning for social impact through business partnerships in the CSI space. We specialise in creating tailor-made programmes and strategies that transform communities into sustainable, resilient systems through training, coaching, mentoring, and capacity building. As a preferred training partner, we offer in-person and online blended learning, with CPD points for registered programmes. Our approach combines practical training with hands-on experience, preparing learners for real-world scenarios and fostering long-term social change for the greater good.

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BEST NGO CATEGORY FINALISTS

JumpStart Foundation

Founded in 2011, JumpStart Foundation has reached over 100,000 learners and continues to expand its impact. In partnership with local communities and schools, the foundation brings the best in Mathematics and STEM education to develop locally relevant solutions. JumpStart aims to inspire the next generation of South Africans, passionate about and skilled in mathematics, science, and technology. The dedicated team, from diverse backgrounds, works to identify and pilot sustainable solutions, leveraging local talent and resources. By addressing challenges like large class sizes, varying learner competence, and resource constraints, JumpStart is committed to improving South Africa’s education system and future prospects.

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Columba Leadership

Columba Leadership is dedicated to youth empowerment and social transformation in South Africa through a values-driven leadership model. By supporting 315 government high schools, Columba has empowered more than 20,000 young people from under-resourced communities to become responsible leaders. Their unique facilitation approach enables youth to unlock their potential and work collaboratively to effect meaningful change in their lives and communities. Columba builds life-long capabilities and fosters partnerships between youth and adults, demonstrating that dropout rates can decrease, academic performance can improve, and young people can emerge as inspired leaders and role models.

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Afrika Tikkun

Afrika Tikkun's vision is to enable young people to become socially and economically empowered, believing everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. For 30 years, Afrika Tikkun has enriched the lives of children and youth through sustainable programmes implemented via their holistic Cradle-to-Career 360° model. Operating nationally, these programmes aim to reduce youth unemployment, break generational poverty, and create an equal society. Afrika Tikkun's three decades of service are marked by impact, empowerment and transformation within the communities they serve.

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