Nonkululeko Sishi
In a country where there is much scope for development and the uplifting of its people, corporate social investment (CSI) has become an important focus area for businesses across all industries. The Transnet Group has a separate division that implements the company’s socio-economic development projects to ensure the best possible resources are dedicated to CSI initiatives. This division, the Transnet Foundation, is breaking ground to build a healthy, safe and educated nation.
Nonkululeko Sishi, the group executive for human resources at Transnet, says the company has supported community upliftment efforts and backed social development initiatives that encourage engagement and empowerment of the vulnerable and those in greatest need, all with a common aim – to make lasting, sustainable impact.
“Transnet’s community involvement is directed at supporting government development priorities, with a keen focus on the most vulnerable sectors of our society. We have a very strong rural bias in our community investment decisions, and our investment is targeted at ensuring that we provide opportunities that will allow this country to thrive and prosper,” she says.
But how integrated is the approach of the Transnet Foundation with the company’s overall corporate strategy?
“The seven-year Transnet Market Demand Strategy (MDS) provides an anchor that guides our CSI approach. The Foundation can draw upon a broad pool of specialists and experts within the organisation as well as a range of experiences related and linked to our core business. This enhances any monetary contribution provided and adds real value to the community-based projects,” she says.
In addition, through employee volunteer programmes, Transnet shares its expertise and human talent in various areas to benefit corresponding needs in the communities. Consistent with its overall business model, the Transnet Foundation looks to dedicate its resources to projects or needs that are of developmental importance, focusses on areas of greatest need with an unwavering commitment to sustainability and impact.
Focusing on change
The community involvement of the Foundation is focussed on five main areas – education, health, sports development, social infrastructure development, and employee volunteerism. In addition to these flagship programmes, the company also responds to immediate community needs via a range of grants and donations.
“At Transnet, we drive a very strong partnership ethos. We believe that partnerships with like-minded organisations and individuals allow us to scale programmes and strengthen programme impact to deliver far more lasting and sustainable outcomes than we can ever achieve in isolation. Our award-winning 20-year-old Phelophepa healthcare trains are an apt example of our unique CSI approach,” she adds.
With Transnet embracing advances in technology in its business operations, the Foundation is also of the view that developments such cloud computing, social media, and mobile technology can have a significant impact on its CSI efforts.
“It can increase the quantity of clients served, improve service delivery and quality, and lead to better reporting and more engagement with stakeholders. For example, database software provides a method for us to collect, analyse and manipulate data in a myriad ways for a range of business benefits. We also use well-established digital communication channels such as Facebook and Twitter for sharing information.”
Personally driven
Sishi relishes the opportunity to be involved in projects that touch the lives of the most vulnerable.
“Moreover, seeing a project from infancy to its fruition when it becomes self-supporting, starting to deliver benefits to its hard working beneficiaries, and the opportunity to make a difference are perhaps the things that get me most excited about this kind of work. It showcases the human and caring part of our business.”
But she is all too aware that for CSI projects to be successful, they have to have a lasting legacy.
“To enhance the impact of our CSI efforts and reflect our business model, Transnet focuses its resources on projects that are well-defined in the five focus areas mentioned earlier. Our emphasis is on projects making a real difference through innovation, collaboration, quality, and sustainability.”
When assessing projects, Transnet focuses on the potential developmental impact.
“We believe that good corporate citizenship should be a matter of course and is not something to be undertaken for publicity or marketing purposes,” she concludes.