34 INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPORT 2024 Community : Corporate Social Responsibility The October 2023 fire at NCT Richards Bay Mill Complex served as a poignant reminder of the significance of giving back. In a reversal of roles, NCT found itself on the receiving end. The outpouring of support from the Richards Bay community, and indeed from across South Africa, was overwhelming. Assistance came in various forms: physical aid, human resources, sustenance, shelter, and heartfelt acts of kindness. Without this collective support, overcoming the formidable blaze would have been immensely challenging for NCT. The generosity demonstrated through the donations underscores the profound impact of our Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme on communities. This realisation has further fuelled our commitment to ongoing contributions to the communities we serve. In the past year, NCT extended support to surrounding communities and non-profit organisations. Our focus was on empowering beneficiaries at the grassroots level, moving beyond mere handouts. As the proverb goes, “It’s better to teach a person how to fish than to give a fish.” Through our CSI program in collaboration with NGOs, NCT aided: • 150 children in Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers in the Greytown area with fortified food. • 53 orphaned children in Piet Retief with school uniforms. • Clothing for 35 orphaned children in Durban. • Solar panels and educational tools for in-house ECD programmes at a foster home in Bishopstowe. • Installation of handwashers in two creches in Howick. • Support to a Childrens’ Foundation for orphaned and vulnerable children in and around Edendale. • Funding for a Pietermaritzburg Academy focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics subjects. • Provision of electronic wheelchairs and stimulation toys for disabled children in Harding. • Supply of stationary, sports equipment, and pre-school resources to a farm school in Eston. • Installation of greenhouse tunnels for a home in Durban. • Offering 30 learnerships and ten bursaries to Richtek, and facilitating 21 enrolments for driving permits for various construction machinery for the Mandlanzini Community in Richards Bay. • Supplying educational materials to three ECD centers in Mandlanzini. • Provision of sanitary pads to 193 girls from a Vryheid school. • 10 laptops sponsored to Umhlathuze 2023 top matric achievers. Furthermore, NCT actively engages in community development initiatives aimed at cultivating positive relationships with neighbouring communities surrounding NCT-owned farms. Spearheaded by our Tree Farms Liaison Officer, NCT has made significant contributions to uplift neighbouring communities by providing: • Boreholes for clean water access
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