MTN's 15 years of community upliftment

MTN SA Foundation marks 15 years of transforming people's lives through various interventions spanning education, health, arts and enterprise development in excess of R700 million.

It is worth noting that, as the world remembers the passing of Madiba on 5 December in 2013, it was also on that day 15 years ago that the late President Nelson Mandela officially launched the first MTN Foundation (MTN SA Foundation) at the Theatre on Track in Kyalami, Johannesburg.

The MTN Group now has a total of 14 MTN Foundations through which MTN drives its corporate social investment activities across its 22 markets in Africa and the Middle East. MTN is not only the market leader in the majority of its markets, but is also recognised as the largest corporate investor in social responsibility initiatives aimed at transforming people's lives. The MTN Group invested approximately R335 million in support of its MTN Foundations and CSI activities across its footprint during 2015.

MTN SA CEO Mteto Nyati said MTN was indeed proud of its corporate citizenship heritage, which it has built with its many partners - including MTN employees, government and the NGO sector. "And as we mark this milestone today," he added, "we find inspiration in the call that Madiba made at the launch of the MTN SA Foundation on 5 December 2001."

In his own words on that day, Madiba said: "I have always encouraged South African businesses to become more actively involved in making a measurable difference to the disadvantaged members of our society, so it is indeed a pleasure to formally inaugurate the MTN Foundation today. The MTN Foundation will make a significant contribution to our national effort towards reconstruction and development, and the building of a better life for all."

MTN SA Foundation has significant huge investments in education, health and arts in South Africa, and transformed hundreds of thousands of lives. Through its e-education programme, MTN SA Foundation reached 500 000 learners, trained more than 11 000 teachers and established a total of 386 ICT centres during the 2014-2016 period.

"We are proud of the impact our outreach programmes have had on communities that are less fortunate. Using the power of connectivity to facilitate access to healthcare and education, the MTN SA Foundation, in partnership with government, has opened up new vistas and avenues for impoverished communities and gave them renewed hope for the future," said Nyati.