Social Responsibility Initiatives
As we strive to provide our members with excellent service delivery, so too do we encourage our members to provide excellent service delivery in their communities.
IMATU is not only concerned with achieving social transformation through the creation of a sustainable Local Government, we also want to give back to our members, their families and their communities.
Each of our 8 Regional Offices coordinate and run their own individual community projects, charity drives and awareness campaigns specifically situated within their geographical scope. IMATU does also host a collective annual charity drive which is attended by our leadership team, members, service providers and social partners. All proceeds raised are equally divided and donated to the Kaalfontein Primary School and a charity of our President’s choosing.
IMATU COMMEMORATES MANDELA DAY: 18 JULY 2024
18 JULY 2024
Mandela day is an annual event named after Nelson Mandela and is designed to encourage everyone to action against poverty. The theme for 2024 is “It is still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity”. Nelson Mandela, in addressing the scourge of poverty, suffering and deprivation, said: “It is in your hands to make our world a better one for all, especially the poor, vulnerable and marginalised”.
For many South Africans, 18 July is one of the most special and inspirational days of the year. Established in 2009, Mandela Day honours the legacy of Nelson Mandela (who spent 67 years fighting for human rights) by asking South Africans to dedicate 67 minutes to making a difference in their communities. Mandela day was founded on the principle that we can all give a little bit of our time to have a positive effect on the life of someone else. We can all make a difference in our community and help change the world for the better.
IMATU CELEBRATES WOMEN’S DAY 9 AUGUST 2022
9 August 2022
On Tuesday 9 August 2022 IMATU will join with the nation in celebrating Women’s Day.
In one of the landmark moments of our country’s history, approximately 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956, to protest against the notorious pass laws. The “pass” was designed to maintain population segregation, control urbanisation and manage migrant labour during the apartheid era.
This march was led by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams. The women left 14 000 petitions at the office doors of the prime minister, JG Strijdom, and then stood silently for 30 minutes, whereafter they started singing a protest song that had been composed in honour of the occasion: “Wathint’Abafazi Wathint’imbokodo” (Now you have touched the women, you strike a rock).
In the years since 1956, the phrase “if you strike a woman, you strike a rock” has come to represent women’s courage and strength, in South Africa, and it is this courage and strength that we will again celebrate, on 9 August 2021.
Amidst the celebrations, however, the 9th of August is also a time to reflect sombrely on the ongoing gender-based violence that the women (and children) of our country are subjected to on a daily basis. It is one of the tragedies of the new decade, that more than half of the women in South Africa have experienced some form of violence from someone with whom they were in a relationship.
The most vulnerable members of our communities, our women and children, are being subjected to unprecedented levels of violence, and on this Women’s Day, IMATU calls on all citizens of this country to take a stand against gender-based violence, and to remember the legacy of those indomitable women who marched against the pass laws, in 1956.
IMATU COMMEMORATES MANDELA DAY
18 July 2022
Mandela day is an annual event named after Nelson Mandela and is designed to encourage everyone to action against poverty.
For many South Africans, 18 July is one of the most special and inspirational days of the year. Established in 2009, Mandela Day honours the legacy of Nelson Mandela (who spent 67 years fighting for human rights) by asking South Africans to dedicate 67 minutes to making a difference in their communities. Mandela day was founded on the principle that we can all give a little bit of our time to have a positive effect on the life of someone else. We can all make a difference in our community and help change the world for the better.
For young people, the day is more than a history lesson on this great leader.
It is an opportunity to learn how to be active citizens and see how even seemingly small acts of generosity can bring about meaningful change.
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made for the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
This year, IMATU commemorates Mandela Day as follows:
Cape Metropolitan Region made a monetary donation to the Fikelela Children’s Centre. The Centre is an outreach programme of the Fikelela Aids Project, situated in Mandela Park, Khayelitsha and serves the area of the Western Cape.
Western Cape Region purchased blankets for the Haven Night Shelter in Paarl, who is in desperate need of blankets for the homeless people they care for.
eThekwini and Johannesburg Regions took the golden opportunity to heed
the call-to-action by Nelson Mandela to achieve his goals for 2019 – 2029 of
improving education and literacy, food and nutrition, shelter, sanitation and
active citizenship. Against this background the focus of these Regions provided much needed relief to the hard hit, destitute Day Care Centre of Isipingo. 67 minutes was dedicated to cleaning the playground and a monetary donation, microwave, mini- blankets and groceries were provided.
KwaZulu Natal Region identified 6 families living in appalling conditions in the Kokstad area and provided food parcels and blankets to these families. Two beds as generously donated by an IMATU member of the Greater Kokstad Branch was given to two of the families. The KwaDukuza Branch provided food hampers to 20 families who were hard hit by the recent floods during April 2022.
Gauteng Region visited the Tsakane Old Age Home in Ekurhuleni and donated a Voucher as well as interacted with the elderly at the centre.
Free State Region joined hands with Metropolitan and installed soap dispensers in each bathroom as well as sanitiser dispensers in the Staff room of the Boitumelong Special School situated in Thaba Nchu. Benches were also donated for the outside area and flowers planted.
Tshwane Region supported the Tshwaraleng House situated in the Nellmapius settlement in Mamelodi. The House is a safehouse for orphans and also provides meals and homework assistance for the children. Several items including paint, a winter hoody for each child and groceries were donated.
Eastern Cape Region donated perishable and non-perishable foods to an Orphanage home in the Makana Branch in Grahamstown. Food and blankets were also donated to a family that recently lost their home as well as all their belongings in a fire in the Port St Johns area.
The National Office made a monetary donation to the Abraham Kriel Bambanani Orphanage in Nylstroom.
IMATU making a difference in our communities and helping to change the world for the better.
VIVA IMATU VIVA!!!
IMATU SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INITIATIVE
8 June 2022
In recognising the magnitude of the hardship faced by thousands of eThekwini residents as a result of the devasting floods in April 2022, IMATU recently provided some much needed relief to those hard-hit residents of eThekwini. This storm left thousands of families destitute after their homes were severely damaged or swept away.
A total of 80 families were identified around eThekwini, covering the West, North and South areas.
IMATU’s President, Mr Keith Swanepoel, accompanied by the Deputy President, Ms Queen Mbatha and assisted by eThekwini Shop Stewards and Officials distributed packs filled with groceries, blankets, backpacks and clothing to these 80 families in Molweni and Tongaat on 6 and 8 June 2022y.
Although IMATU’s primary purpose as a trade union is to regulate relations between employees and employers, we are proud to launch initiatives that uplift our communities, as part of our social responsibility programmes.
VIVA IMATU VIVA!
IMATU eThekwini Region donated groceries
23 May 2022
IMATU eThekwini Region donated groceries, hampers and blankets to the flood stricken community at Marionhill today.
This is one of the hardest hit areas in eThekwini with people being housed in Community Halls and Churches.
IMATU took hands with Metropolitan and Best Funeral Services to add to the success of this Social Responsibility Initiative.
Viva IMATU Viva!!!
IMATU-Discovery Bursary Scheme
IMATU, in association with the Discovery Health, has established a Bursary Scheme as part of our on-going commitment to the wellbeing of our members and their families.
The aim of the Bursary Scheme is to provide financial assistance to IMATU members, and the children of IMATU members, in order to facilitate the pursuance and obtaining of a tertiary qualification.
The amount of each bursary granted will be R 5000 and a maximum of 100 bursaries will be granted annually. Applications for the IMATU-Discovery Bursary Scheme open in January each year.
Annual Charity Drive
As we strive to provide our members with excellent service delivery, so too do we encourage our members to provide excellent service delivery in their communities.
IMATU is not only concerned with achieving social transformation through the creation of a sustainable Local Government, we also want to give back to our members, their families and their communities.
Each of our 8 Regional Offices coordinate and run their own individual community projects, charity drives and awareness campaigns specifically situated within their geographical scope. IMATU does also host a collective annual charity drive which is attended by our leadership team, members, service providers and social partners. All proceeds raised are equally divided and donated to the Kaalfontein Primary School and the Jabulani Nursery and Pre-Primary School in KwaZulu Natal. This pre-primary and nursery school currently educates and caters for children, from a predominantly poor and underemployed area. Donations from our previous golf days have assisted in the extension of a safe, interactive play area at the pre-school, electrical improvements and the construction of new children’s ablution block.
The other half of funds raised is donated to the Kaalfontein Primary School in Midrand, via the Adopt-a-School Foundation. Kaalfontein Primary School has been in operation for over 11 years and is the only primary school in the Kaalfontein and surrounding areas. All the learners in attendance are from economically challenged circumstances and 15% of learners are orphans or from child headed households.
Thus far the money raised has assisted the school in providing eye sight testing for all 1538 learners and providing the visually impaired pupils with spectacles. With your help, last year, we were able to install a compost area, erected a rainwater harvesting structure and extended the school’s existing vegetable garden – an exercise that has greatly enhanced their feeding scheme.
