Community

Matla A Bokone Solar is focused on empowering and strengthening the local communities in and around the Sol Plaatje municipal area, in the Northern Cape.

The beneficiary communities include: Riverton, Barkly West, Kimberley Central, Boshof, Delportshoop, Galeshewe, Greenpoint, Holpan, Platfontein, Ritchie, Roodepan and Windsorton.

The aim is to empower and build capacity of targeted communities through the funding of various socio-economic development programmes that positively address local skills gaps and needs, and to empower the communities to be economically independent and take ownership of their future.

The approach is characterised by continuous engagement, the sharing of knowledge and experiences, and a focus on the relevance and practicality of projects supported. All of Matla A Bokone Solar’s local economic development programmes are results and impact-driven; designed to be sustainable and make a lasting difference in communities within which the company operates.

The beneficiary communities will benefit directly from the economic development programme, for the duration of the solar plant’s twenty year operations period, in accordance with the plant operating agreement.

SED FLAGSHIP PROJECTS

The focus of Matla A Bokone Solar’s Socio-Economic Development (SED) Projects will be on education (specifically within ECD centres), health, skills development and welfare. The programmes have been chosen following research and engagement to ensure that the programmes are well informed.

Education

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

Provision of Education Resources and Play Equipment

Early Childhood Development for children between the ages of 0 and 6 years is critical in determining the success of the child’s academic foundations. It is with this belief that Matla A Bokone Solar will prioritise ECD Centres requiring educational resources and play equipment, both of which are vital for development.

Minor repairs at ECD Centres

As part of this programme, Matla A Bokone Solar will assess the condition of ECD Centres in the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality and appoint local service providers to conduct the repairs and/or maintenance as general maintenance of the ECD facilities is often neglected due to lack of funds.

ECD Centres are largely dependent on the Government subsidy and school fees to sustain its operations, which are often not reliable. This places an additional burden on the ECD Centres as their core focus is on the child.

LIFE SKILLS PROGRAMME FOR YOUTH

A Life Skills Programme (“LSP”) that supports young people in the development of skills to deal with the pressures of adolescence is being implemented. The programme is intended to instill life skills needed to navigate the journey to adulthood. We believe that negative behavior displayed during adolescence, if left unaddressed, often manifests in substance abuse and gender-based violence. The intervention will be focused on the non-academic development of youth within the beneficiary communities.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Access to tertiary studies is a high priority within the beneficiary communities. During the first year of operations, three full tertiary scholarships will be made available to qualifying learners to attend Universities. The Scholarship Programme will be implemented in accordance with the Management Services Company Policy on Scholarships in association with Study Trust.

Health

SCHOOL HEALTH PROJECT

With the focus on addressing school health services in both Primary and High Schools, a mobile clinic is being implemented to address key activities that make up the package of health services that should be provided as a minimum in all schools. These activities include:

• Health education and promotion;
• Learner assessment and screening (vision, audiology, occupational therapy, dentistry);
• Provision of onsite services; and
• Follow up and referral

Enterprise Development

A percentage of the revenue generated each year will be committed to implementing Enterprise Development (EnD) initiatives, to build resilience and accelerate the growth and success of entrepreneurial businesses, ultimately stimulating the local economic growth and creating opportunities for the economic participation of previously disadvantaged groups.

During 2019, Early Spend was advanced to the Droogfontein Communal Property Association (CPA) Enterprise Development initiative. Further programmes will be finalised following additional consultation with the beneficiary communities.