MBABANE – SWAZI Empowerment Limited (SEL) has donated E600 000 to three institutions, strengthening support for education infrastructure, vulnerable children and cancer care amid pressure on non-governmental organisations.
The investment holding company, which is listed on the Eswatini Stock Exchange (ESE), extended the financial support through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme to the Ministry of Education and Training, SOS Children’s Village and Eswatini Cancer Network.
The donation was officially handed over during a ceremony held at the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) offices, where representatives of the beneficiary institutions expressed appreciation for the contribution, describing it as timely given the financial difficulties confronting organisations providing essential social services.
Speaking during the handover, SEL CSR Chairperson Shaka Ndlangamandla said the company’s commitment to supporting vulnerable groups and young people remained central to its social responsibility initiatives.
He explained that the funding distributed through the programme was sourced from dividends generated by the company’s investments, demonstrating how returns from corporate investments could be channelled towards addressing some of the country’s social development needs.
SEL is an investment holding company with interests in major businesses, including MTN Eswatini, in which it holds a 19 per cent stake.
Ndlangamandla said the company took pride in extending a helping hand to communities and institutions that required assistance, particularly those working with vulnerable emaSwati.
He noted that the support was intended to make a meaningful difference in the operations of the beneficiary institutions and the communities they served.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education and Training highlighted the importance of the contribution towards addressing infrastructure challenges in schools, particularly the rehabilitation of dilapidated facilities and the provision of essential learning infrastructure.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Education and Training, Principal Economist in the ministry Nkululeko Gwebu said the ministry was delighted to once again receive support from SEL towards one of the critical areas of education development.
He said education remained the bedrock of national growth, but emphasised that the availability of proper infrastructure was equally important in ensuring that children received quality education.
Gwebu pointed out that classrooms, desks and safe school structures were fundamental to the learning process, adding that every child deserved an opportunity to learn in a secure and adequately equipped environment.
He further highlighted that the relationship between SEL and the ministry had existed for several years, with the partnership having benefited a number of schools through the construction of infrastructure, rehabilitation of deteriorating structures and provision of clean water.
According to Gwebu, the ministry continued to receive numerous requests from schools seeking assistance with infrastructure development and the rehabilitation of existing facilities.
However, he acknowledged that the ministry was unable to meet all these demands, making partnerships with the private sector increasingly important in addressing the country’s education infrastructure requirements.
He said the latest contribution would therefore go a long way in helping the ministry respond to some of the outstanding needs in schools.
Gwebu further expressed hope that the partnership would continue and attract additional development partners who could help the ministry address infrastructure challenges on a larger scale.
He said the contribution had come at an opportune time, as the ministry continued working towards improving the quality of education through various reforms, including ensuring that schools had appropriate facilities to support effective learning.
Another beneficiary was Eswatini Cancer Network, formerly known as the Swaziland Breast and Cervical Cancer Network.
The organisation’s change of name reflects its expanded mandate, as it is no longer exclusively focused on breast and cervical cancer but has broadened its work to address cancer across different forms.
The development is significant as the organisation seeks to respond to the wider cancer burden affecting both women and men in the country.
The support from SEL is expected to assist the organisation in continuing its work, particularly at a time when institutions involved in cancer-related support and other social interventions face financial constraints.
NGOs face funding pressure
MBABANE – Representatives of SOS Children’s Village and Eswatini Cancer Network also expressed appreciation for the financial assistance, describing it as timely amid the difficulties experienced by non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
This follows reductions in funding from the United States and other international development partners.
They explained that the withdrawal or reduction of external funding had placed considerable pressure on organisations that depend on donor contributions to sustain their programmes and provide services to vulnerable communities.
The representatives said contributions from local institutions and companies such as SEL were becoming increasingly important in helping organisations maintain their operations and continue reaching people who depended on their assistance.
They applauded SEL for recognising the challenges faced by social organisations and responding through financial support, noting that such contributions made a meaningful difference in their ability to carry out their respective mandates.
The donation also highlighted the importance of collaboration between the private sector and social institutions in addressing developmental challenges, particularly where government resources and international donor funding are insufficient to meet the growing needs of communities.
