Santam and partners brings hope to Mpumalanga learners

Santam is partnering with Metro FM, and Ehlanzeni District Municipality to handover school uniform to the learners of Siyakhula Primary school in Mpumalanga. As a caring corporate citizen, Santam aims to foster a supportive and equitable education environment for all learners through this initiative.

Most of the school’s 452 learners at Siyakhula Primary school come from child-headed or severely impoverished homes, where unemployment and social challenges make it difficult to afford school uniforms, hygiene products, or daily meals. The lack of basic resources contributes to poor school attendance, further entrenching cycles of poverty and vulnerability.

Recognising the need for intervention, Santam, South Africa’s leading short-term insurer, has launched a corporate social investment initiative aimed at restoring dignity and improving access to education for these learners.

““By donating school uniforms to the value of R400,000, we aim to address one of the most urgent barriers to attendance at Siyakhula – the lack of proper school attire, an act that not only supports education but also represents freedom through dignity, choice and equal opportunity” said Neptal Khoza, Head of Market Development at Santam at the recent handover. “We are proud to make a meaningful difference in a community that urgently needs our support.”

For many learners, arriving at school without a uniform or shoes often leads to absenteeism, social stigma, and diminished self-esteem. “By supporting Siyakhula Primary School, we hope to help children reclaim their dignity and believe in their potential,” adds Khoza.

Santam’s support forms part of its broader commitment to building resilient communities through sustainable interventions that address the root causes of vulnerability. The initiative also aligns with the company’s focus on youth empowerment, particularly in under-resourced communities.

In an added moment of celebration and recognition, Santam will amplify its involvement through its sponsorship of the Best New Artist award at the 2025 Metro FM Music Awards. “For the second year in a row, we are a sponsor at the Metros.  South Africans can tune in to Breakaway on the 24^th of April as Khutso Theledi broadcasts live from the school grounds of Siyakhula Primary. Says Khoza. “Education plays a vital role in breaking the cycle of poverty. Through collaborative efforts, we believe this cycle can be broken – one child, one school, one community at a time,” Khoza concludes.