Grow culture of CSI every day . . . live it
By Luvuyo Bangazi MBDA CSI Committee Chairman
INEQUALITY is a reality that faces all of us every day. No matter where you go, inequality stares you in the face.
Using the most recent figures, South Africa, Namibia and Haiti are among the most unequal countries in terms of income distribution – based on the Gini index estimates from the World Bank – while Ukraine, Slovenia and Norway rank as the most equal nations in the world.
To think that the country of Madiba would be ranked at the bottom is profound.
We can point fingers or we can each try to effect change in the spaces we have influence over. We can change the world one street, one neighbourhood or one city at a time.
At the Mandela Bay Development Agency, we prioritise Corporate Social Investment, or as others call it – Corporate Social Responsibility – as a key organisational performance indicator. We believe CSI or CSR will only be effective if given priority and resources to effect change.
Over the years, we have been involved with a number of great social causes, either as part of urban renewal efforts or as stand alone initiatives.
What we try to do is to approach CSI/CSR from a self-help approach rather than a band aid. We work with our communities to set them up towards a sustainable path. We know that through our support, other partners will follow.
Sport specifically, in our experience, has been an effective platform for change. Through sport, we have been able to tackle underlying socio-economic issues.
Take the case of iMveli Cycling Academy – the MBDA being the first organisation to offer this budding township-based cycling academy assistance.
The MBDA’s support for this initiative is not a transactional one where we pay and we claim certain points until we meet again the following year. Our approach is different, we leverages every relevant point of contact we have with our service providers, associates and sister departments.
We start by uncovering the major needs first, identifying the enablers, without which the rest is impossible.
For iMveli, we realised that nutrition was a big factor. You can’t train on an empty stomach. With the support received from the MBDA, iMveli was able to galvanise more partners on board. As things stand now, the academy has a steady stream of support taking care of this crucial aspect.
Since then, Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor Athol Trollip and his departments have gotten behind this worthy initiative.
Our relationship with iMveli academy is not on a needs and wants basis – its is about finding common ground.
The MBDA’s roles are to transform space, systems and people. Unless we change people’s circumstances, systems aren’t likely to change.
Take a short trip to the northern areas of Nelson Mandela Bay. There you will find a place called Helenvale, with a resilient community that has gone through major hardships.
Hope is rising in this community of 30 000-odd and thanks to the efforts of the MBDA-led Safety and Peace Through Urban Upgrading, a ß5-million (R81-million) funded programme by KfW Bank of Germany.
The funding is part of an international agreement between the two countries, while the MBDA fulfills the role of implementing agency on behalf of the NMB municipality.
Various social development programmes have been implemented and continue to roll out in Helenvale. The recent Helenvale School Sports day was a major victory for unity. Kids who would not normally play together because of gang territories suddenly spent quality time on a football pitch, cricket nets or netball court.
Finally, not far from the hustle and bustle of Ferguson Road in New Brighton is Singaphi Street.
Some refer to this street as Boast! The MBDA entered this street in 2014 with the aim to revitalise and revive the abundant heritage this street possesses. In doing so, it became obvious that the creation of socially responsible and developmentally focused spaces was important.
The creation of kiddies parks, netball parks and an entertainment park all add to the rejuvenation of a street, a neighbourhood and a township to once again stand proud, working towards closing the gap of inequality.
As we progress, we need to find ways and means to make CSI, CSR and Mandela Day all part and parcel of normal business operations.
Without that we will continue to see the huge spikes and dips in both resource allocation, as well as public participation.