Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - Sunday 05 May 2002
Staff at some of the country's biggest companies and government departments have already raised over R1-million and provided food to orphans in some of the country's poorest areas in what is believed to be the start of a new trend among employees.
In one instance, South African Revenue Services employees in Johannesburg have started an orphan outreach scheme to hand out food, clothes and furniture to destitute children.
And 16% of Absa staff have signed up to contribute a slice of their monthly salaries towards an Aids fund that provides drug treatment for rape survivors and to help prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission. The employees' contribution is matched by the bank and thus far R1-million has been raised.
Employees of South African mining giant AngloGold have volunteered to become HIV/Aids counsellors to its infected workforce.
Xoliswa Singiswa, chairman of the SARS charity committee, said staff had decided to help out because it was the only way to guarantee a better life for all.
She said employees had been thrilled by the idea.
"The response has been remarkable. We are going out there looking for places that are really desperate, places that nobody is looking at," said Singiswa.
Ebrahim Asmal, coordinator of Absa's "Give as you Earn" project, said it was modelled on one in UK, but was much better supported locally.
Said Asmal: "I think people realise that HIV/Aids affects us all, and that they can make a real difference by getting stuck in themselves."
Asmal challenged other businesses to follow suit, enabling the country to uplift itself.
Shelagh Blackman, spokesman for AngloGold, said some employees had volunteered to become HIV/Aids counsellors, bolstering the company's Wellness Programme. Between 25% and 30% of the 44 000 workforce is HIV-positive, according to research figures released last month.
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