TABLE OF CONTENTS: > page no. UNLOCKING RURAL FUTURES

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2 TABLE OF CONTENTS: > page no. > 4-5 > 6. > 7 > 8 > 11 > 13 > 15 > 17 > 19 > 21. UNLOCKING RURAL FUTURES The Buffelshoek Trust reviews its organisational values every few years, ensuring that the team, the communities, partners and investors continue to share the same vision for sustainable social change in our partner communities. > > After a period of exponential growth, reflection and deepening our programme of work during the last year, our vision to unlock rural futures is becoming a reality as our community centred investment portfolio - as shown in the Buffelshoek Trust Theory of Change illustration is implemented. page 2 page 3

3 EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE Our Trustees form a pillar of strength, providing effective governance and inspiration for the Trust. After a period of long service, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation and respect to retiring Trustees Mr Sidney Frankel and Mr Jurie Moolman both whom have served on the Trust since its inception in We would also like to welcome on board our newest Trustees, Mrs Lorato Phalatse and Mr Campbell Scott. A WORD FROM OUR CHAIRMAN The last year has seen the Buffelshoek Trust reach the end of a three-year strategy to shift away from extensive investment in infrastructure and basic services to a focus on self-determination and empowerment for our partner communities. This shift in approach has seen the development of new mechanisms for peer-led learning within key stakeholder groups including small business owners, principals and educators, farmers, health care workers and traditional authorities. Working hand in hand with National Treasury, the University of Johannesburg s Centre for Small Business Development, the Sabi Sands Pfunanani Trust and the Sabi Sand Wildtuin, our Pfunanani Enterprise Development Project has enabled the Trust to deliver University Accredited small business training to local business owners and develop new relationships with the eco-tourism economy. This focus on expert support and peer learning has secured 69 trade contracts for village-based businesses within the first year of the project. CURRENT TRUSTEES: Reuel Khoza: Chairperson and founding Trustee of the Buffelshoek Trust, Dr Khoza, is the recently retired chairperson of the Nedbank Group and has been an active change agent in the business community in South Africa since the mid-eighties. As a resident of the Acornhoek community, Dr Khoza has a vested interest in leading positive social change in the region. Michael Katz: Trustee Katz is the chairperson of ENSafrica and is actively involved in practicing law. He is also a member of a number of regulatory bodies and serves on several company boards, including chairing the Commission of Inquiry to Investigate the Taxation System of South Africa and serving as a member of the King Committee on Corporate Governance Richard Siwela: Trustee Siwela is a longstanding Trustee and resident in Utah village. He currently works as a financial manager for the Mbombela Local Municipality and has many years of experience as a teacher in maths and science at two of our partner schools. Peter Moyo: Trustee Moyo is a graduate of Harvard Business School. He currently serves as chairperson of the Vodacom Group and the Audit Committee of the Auditor Generals Office. Isaac Shongwe: Trustee Shongwe is the former CEO of Barloworld and the founder of the African Leadership Initiative. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Wits Business School and the Aspen Institute. Lorato Phalatse: Trustee Phalatse is the former deputy director general in the presidency. She currently serves on the board of Pick n Pay and the Peermont Group, as well as several educational trusts. Thandi Orleyn: Trustee Orleyn is the former director of the Legal Resources Centre and currently serves as a non-executive director of the South African Reserve Bank. She is also the chair of the De Beers Fund and Peotona Trust. Peliwe Lolwana: Professor Lolwana is the director of the WITS Centre for Researching Education and Labour. She is the former director of the Independent Examinations Board and serves on numerous educational boards and committees. Campbell Scott: Trustee Scott is a tourism entrepreneur and the former chief operations officer of the Buffelshoek Trust responsible for Expanding on the concept of peer-learning, the Trust has established a principals forum amongst eight of our partner schools to enable principals to meet on a monthly basis to tackle common challenges under the expert guidance of Dr Hamilton Mnisi and Dr Alice Barlow Zambodla. With further support from the University of Johannesburg Department of Development Studies, each school has created a unique theory of change for the next year, accompanied by a logical framework based action plan and monitoring and evaluation framework. The Trust will use these self-determined plans for school improvement to drive our programme of work in the schools during the next financial year. Similar exercises and activities have been initiated with farmers groups, cultural groups and youth groups. The Trust is witnessing a surge of community-based initiatives to tackle common problems relating to health, well-being, education and environmental sustainability in the area. The Trust continues to invest in basic food and water security projects and technological infrastructure alongside this work, but we look forward to the emergence of a sustainable legacy of community driven development. This work would not be possible without extensive support from partner organisations, tribal authorities, donors and government. In conclusion, may I take this opportunity to thank the Buffelshoek Trust management and staff for diligent delivery and commitment to the Buffelshoek Trust cause. Our sincere gratitude also goes to the Trustees for their wise guidance. all projects between 2003 and page 4 page 5

4 COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS The villages of Dixie, Utah and selected rural communities and schools in the Manyeleti, Hluvukani and Acornhoek regions of Bushbuckridge lack adequate services and support to meet basic human needs. Community partnerships with the structures most relevant to driving interventions (for example, the principal and School Governing Body of a school or the Community Development Forums and Traditional Authorities of a village) ensure that our work is effectively aligned with local initiatives and needs. RELEVANT EXPERTISE To support an expanded programme of work, the Buffelshoek Trust has enlisted the support of retired professionals, expert project managers, student interns and community members. Under the leadership of Chairperson Dr Reuel Khoza and CEO Julia Cloete, the team is creating a portfolio of interventions that support the Trust s vision of unlocking rural futures through our mission of upliftment through education. Back Row: Maria Honig (COO); Nompilo Khanya (Head Office Administration); Julia Cloete (CEO); Agnes Rapau (Enterprise Development); Dr Wendy Fraser (Health and Wellbeing) and Kgomotso Matthews (Enterprise Development) Middle Row: Moses Mathabela (Enterprise Development); Lulu Mbowane (Enterprise Development); Monica Mthibane (Community Administration); Betty Chiyangwa (Education) and Dr Hamilton Mnisi (Education and Leadership) Front Row: Arno Combrink (Finance); Dr Alice Barlow-Zambodla (Education and Technology); Mike Grover (Environment) and Taryn Wilson (Finance Support) page 6 page 7

5 BUFFELSHOEK TRUST REACH APPROPRIATE INVESTMENT Over the last 14 years the Buffelshoek Trust has remained committed to ensuring that our partner schools and communities receive the support they need to equal their urban counterparts. With a focus on long-term sustainability, the Trust is ensuring that each partner be it a school, business or community based organization receives all the support they need to unlock their future. A solid foundation from which to thrive can take years to build especially for schools and village based initiatives. Without creating dependencies, the Trust realizes that each community partner has its own development trajectory. The Trust aims to exit from schools and communities once they are able to meet all of their own needs, and act as mentors and supporters for their neighbours. In this way, we enjoy seeing an exponential return on our investments as communities, schools and village businesses not only thrive but also reach out and support the communities around them. page 8 page 9

6 The principal investment of the Trust is linked to teaching and learning for early childhood development, pupil performance, capacity building, enterprise development, health & wellbeing, and environmental sustainability. The Trust has adopted three crèches, six primary and three high schools in the Manyeleti and Acornhoek regions of Bushbuckridge. Our highlight for the year was the official hand over by the Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga, of the Acorns to Oaks Comprehensive High School to the Acornhoek community in Bohlabela District. Acorns to Oaks Comprehensive High School - a maths, science and technology high school of excellence - aims to prepare students for tertiary studies as well as increasing their ability to embark on specialised careers directly after grade 12. The Trust has also begun an annual monitoring and evaluation of eight of our schools in partnership with University of Johannesburg honours students in development studies. These students conducted their twoweek service learning titled Tracking Development in Education Programme to collect the schools first ever baseline on school performance and wellbeing. The student s reports underwent a rigorous review before being delivered to the principals of the schools to support whole school improvement plans for the years ahead. CURRENT With generous support of Old Mutual, the Trust has place retired St Stithians rector David Wylde in Acorns to Oaks High School for ten days per month to mentor the principal, School Management Team and School Governing Body as part of a whole school improvement programme. Thanks to Aspen Pharmacare, the Trust has employed Dr Wendy Fraser to engage with our partner schools on health issues in the area, with a particular focus on understanding reproductive and sexual health issues such as HIV/Aids, teenage pregnancy and abuse amongst high school learners. Dr Fraser will also work with the nurses at the clinic as part of an on-going capacity building programme in primary health care. EDUCATION There can be no transformation without teaching and learning Sport provides a great platform for engaging with the youth around conservation in general and the need to fight rhino poaching in particular. DreamLeagues is a programme by the Dreamfields organisation, where conservation educators engage schools on the sports field with important conservation messages. DreamLeagues runs training with teachers and school sports assistants on coaching young players and conservation education. page 10 page 11

7 The Utah Nyarhi Clinic provides first class primary health care to people across six villages in the Manyeleti region of Bushbuckridge Local Municipality. This year, supported by Discovery, the clinic has undergone an expansion of its maternal and child health care programme through the procurement of much needed equipment. Aspen Pharmacare has also contributed towards the employment of a part time doctor to run a healthcare programme aimed at healthcare awareness and illness prevention targeted at schools, youth centres, and households. HEALTH AND WELL BEING Every child has the right to NOT have HIV The Trust and Tiger Brands established a school-feeding scheme to supplement the national schools nutrition programme with take home parcels for 2000 orphaned and vulnerable pupils in five of our partner schools. Together with local partners, the Trust has also established a sustainable food security solution through the development of community food gardens at Manyangana High School and Hananani Primary School that now employ nine and two staff respectively. These farms supply lodges, schools and communities with fresh produce at highly competitive prices. CURRENT Through the employment of Dr Wendy Fraser and her wide network, the Trust has developed new partnerships to support the communities in tackling youth health and wellbeing issues. Dr Fraser s health programme focuses primarily on pre-hospitalisation prevention, capacity building and awareness raising. Water insecurity is a pervasive challenge in the Bushbuckridge region and the Trust continually invests in the installation and maintenance of rain-water harvesting and storage in order to supply schools and villages. 16 Jojo tanks and gutters will be installed in 8 schools in partnership with SAB Miller and Sabi Sands Wildtuin. The contractor chosen to install the schools rain water harvesting infrastructure will provide workplace training for five construction companies (nine trainees), thus bringing a sustainable solution to both employment and water infrastructure repair to the community. page 12 page 13

8 Bringing specialized expertise in high-tech solutions, the Trust aims to find innovative approaches and smart interventions for a lasting social impact. This is achieved through the integration of Information and Communications Technology (ICTs) in education and training systems; capacity building and training; and mainstreaming ICT in education performance programmes. Our leading expert in technology is Dr Alice Barlow-Zambodla, whose involvement is made possible through support from the Vodacom Change the World programme. Dr Barlow-Zambodla is delivering the training and skills necessary to utilise the offline and online learning programmes and empower both teachers and learners in ICTs. To date, we have installed 400 computers and desks and are installing software and connectivity in the computer labs of all nine of our partner schools, facilitating the transformation from chalkboards to computerbased learning. CURRENT With training from Schoolnet, Dr Barlow-Zambodla is building a skilled local team of 29 HelpDesk providers for the computer centres in all 9 of our partnering schools. The Pfunanani Enterprise Development Project has enrolled all of its businesses in enduser computer training and provided each business with a tablet with which to advance and manage their business more effectively. The tablet represents a mobile office in their hands! TECHNOLOGY The value of Technology to rural development is its multiplier effect page 14 page 15

9 The Columba 1400 residential Leadership Academy is designed to give young people the strength and courage to find their own unique voice and purpose, thus activating them towards becoming agents of positive social change as individuals, schools and communities. The Trust has run academies at Manyangana High School for three years running - involving 10 learners, 3 teachers and the principal. This programme has transformed the school s matric pass rate from 33% to 100% in just two years. CURRENT The Trust is hosting a further three Columba Leadership Academies at Acorns to Oaks Comprehensive High School, Mdluli High School and Manyangana High School. This forms part of our aim to benchmark 100% matric pass rates in the region. LEADERSHIP Create a vision for the future and then make a plan to act Thanks to Ms Monica Mthibane, the development of a Utah Community Youth Centre is well underway. The centre involves empowered youth leaders from six villages who want to raise awareness on youth challenges in sexual health, post-matric opportunities, career development and drug abuse. To improve the leadership and management of our eight partner schools, our staff and principals have established a Principals Forum. The Forum creates a platform for inter-school collaboration and knowledge sharing and will meet on a monthly basis with Dr Barlow Zambodla, Ms Mthibane and Dr Mnisi. Dr Mnisi also provides detailed mentorship to Manyangana and Mdluli High Schools, under the guidance of Mr David Wylde. page 16 page 17

10 Through active investments in enterprise development, environmental rehabilitation and environmental awareness, the Trust is supporting the growth of a local green economy that will bring jobs, prosperity, and environmental sustainability to our communities. The Community Cattle and Wildlife Programme serves to launch the broader vision with a mission to ensure that cattle and wildlife can co-exist sustainably and support one another. The programme is an educationbased intervention aimed at the creation of appropriate systems with which to manage disease, overgrazing, water and environment, and improved access to economic opportunities for cattle owners. The programme is being run in partnership with Conservation South Africa, the University of Pretoria, and Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Secretariat and is overseen by Mike Grover. Complementing the Community Cattle and Wildlife Programme s mission for healthy rangelands, the Trust has initiated the Community Bush Clearing partnership together with the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Secretariat. This partnership has created five bush clearing SMMEs with 12 employees per SMME who are trained and contracted to rehabilitate communal rangelands to ensure habitat restoration, road clearing, visibility adjustments, improved tourist experience, firewood collection, improved grazing access and enterprise development. CURRENT A full dam repair and maintenance plan is being completed for the Dixie Community Dam to assist the community in tackling water security threats to their primary form of livelihood, cattle. Cattle owners who represent three villages in the Manyeleti Farmers United have attended a learning exchange hosted by Conservation South Africa where they observed best practices in rangeland management in Matatiele, Eastern Cape. Mike Grover will lead the development of a Holistic Grazing Programme to be implemented as soon as environmentally favourable conditions allow. ENVIRONMENT The low hanging fruit is the regions natural environment. Lets not waste it. page 18 page 19

11 In partnership with Sabi Sand Pfunanani Trust, Sabi Sand Wildtuin, and the University of Johannesburg, the Trust has initiated the Pfunanani Enterprise Development Project (PEDProject) towards the growth of successful village-based economies. This project is being implemented in partnership with the Amashangana, Jongilanga and Mnisi Traditional Authorities towards the goal of helping 60 village-based businesses to act as suppliers and service providers to the existing Eco-Tourism Economy in the area over the next two years. The project is targeting businesses from the eleven villages directly bordering the Sabi Sands Wildtuin. A rigorous selection process was put in place to select businesses that have real potential for growth in the area. Between September 2014 and August 2016 the PEDProject will provide the following support to selected businesses: Training in accredited business management and end-user computer training An introduction to eco-tourism and the wildlife economy Technical skills training Coaching and mentorship Workplace attachments or support Seed capital support Linking businesses to local markets The Trust has supported the growth of the Utah Bakery for several years. This year, the bakery has enjoyed increased production and sales from the donation of a second-hand delivery truck. This truck has increased sales to the highest level and enables the deliveries to the neighbouring lodge market in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. CURRENT 40 SMMEs with a total of 79 trainees are currently enrolled in the PEDProject and will complete their training in September Following the business management course, the businesses will gain a further 12 months of mentorship and technical skills training to guide business development. Market linkages with the Sabi Sand Game Reserve lodge market are being sought to strengthen business viability and economic relationships. A further 33 businesses have been recruited for the next phase of the project. Utah and Dixie food gardens continue to receive support for infrastructure and water security to ensure an increase in production and sales. ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT One man s purpose is another man s passion page 20 page 21

12 CONNECTEDNESS ALICE BARLOW- ZAMBODLA EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY CONNECTEDNESS DR HAMILTON MNISI EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP My personal reflection on the past year is that there is a need to understand your context and create small spaces for sustainable change to happen. For me, this is achieved by: Getting to know people and let them know you forming relationships Learning and observing local protocol Developing trust Developing a deep understanding of context with stakeholders Leveraging synergies through partnerships, collaboration and networks Providing on-going support and continued engagement Establishing good communication and feedback In all my years of experience as a traditional leader, government official, teacher and an advisor to the Buffelshoek Trust, I believe that the four most important investments for building rural futures have been in technology, leadership, health and cooperative governance. I would like to guide you through these investment areas of the Buffelshoek Trust and my reasoning for why we need to continue to lead the charge. There has been a marked improvement in our schools performances over the years due, in part, to investments in relevant expertise and infrastructure to create an environment conducive to effective teaching and learning. Buffelshoek Trust schools are leading the way towards excellent education in highly impoverished circuits. The next step will be to use technology and ICTs to expand on these successes and hone in on school administration, management, teaching and learning. In the Trust s new 2020 vision, ICTs are to be integrated into all planned school improvement activities to encourage on-going use and uptake. ICTs are tools to support more effective management, teaching and learning as well as developing and supporting entrepreneurial capacity within the communities in which the schools are based. To inspire leadership in our principals, we have begun a Principals Forum. One of the most important tools in our leadership toolkit is the visioning workshop: facilitating principals to lead with a clear vision, mission and objectives. The visioning workshops have culminated in the development of integrated school management plans, which increase accountability and ensure sustainability. As part of this initiative matriculated and computer literate out of school youth residing in the communities were invited to apply to participate in a one-year pilot as school-based ICT Monitors. Their role is to provide both training and basic technical support inside the school and report any unresolved technical issues to the two local ICT experts. If the model is successful it will be scaled up and it is hoped that the schools will thereafter consider taking the ICT Monitors on as SGB paid staff. This arrangement serves to create an interface between the schools and the community. An extension to this is the planned development of a youth run ICT Centre to be based in the grounds of the clinic at Utah. In this initiative, youth that have participated in the technical skills training will be supported to set up and run the centre that will serve the communities of Dixie, Utah, Makrepen and Seville, providing them with access to ICTs and information. For connectivity, we have chosen to target locally based alternative and more sustainable internet solutions (both mobile and fixed) better suited to the rural area. Resourcing of the computer centres continues with all schools recently receiving a printer, digital projector, projection screen, headphones as well as a portable multiuser wi-fi router (for classroom use). The Trust operates through its staff and the people we engage with. The Trust is known, respected, trusted and embraced because it understands its context and creates those small spaces that allow for sustainable change to happen. The Trust facilitates cooperative governance amongst community and school leaders. Involving all stakeholders in the governance of a school allows for policy formulation and implementation to develop from the ground up. These workshops have nurtured a mutual respect amongst leaders and stakeholders, and promote collaboration and healthy inter-personal relations. One of the most significant impacts has been the centre-stage focus of pupil well-being. All of the abovementioned interventions will not be meaningful if the basic needs of the learners are not catered for. This has involved the provision of water, food and a state of the art primary health care facility. Continuing health awareness and testing campaigns will lead to youth taking charge of their lives as they have the right to NOT have HIV. It is a slow and winding road that we will continue to travel on but as long as I still have breath in my lungs, I will continue to back the Trust in unlocking rural futures. page 22 page 23

13 ACCOUNTABILITY FINANCIAL REVIEW The financial statements of the Buffelshoek Trust have been audited by CHF & Co in accordance with International Standards on Auditing, including the Statement of Comprehensive Income and the Statement of Changes in Equity appearing below. INFLOW The Trust received R 6, 067, 742 in grants and donations and accrued interest of R 418, 552 on funds in deposit. The total income for the year ended February 2015 was R 7, 293, 667 as compared to R 2, 252, 798 received in the previous financial year. As at the end of February 2015, the Trust held R 7, 737, 041 in cash equivalents as compared to R 6, 928, 676 held at the end of February OUTFLOW The Trust disbursed a total of R 6, 306, 770 during the 2015 financial year as compared to R 4, 181, 672 in The increase in expenditure is the result of the inclusion of the Pfunanani Enterprise Development Project. Financials include support facilitated by the Trust that is provided directly to the communities by means of the feeding scheme. STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Other Income Operating Expenses ( ) ( ) Operating surplus Fair value adjustments (38 764) - Loss on non-current assets sold (6 735) - Project Expenses ( ) ( ) Surplus (deficit) for the year ( ) Other comprehensive income - - Total comprehensive income (loss) for the year ( ) STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY Trust Capital Specific Reserves Accumulated Surplus Total Equity (Amounts in South African Rands) INCOME ACCOUNTABILITY DETAILED INCOME STATEMENT Grants received Interest received Sundry income Recoveries Total Income EXPENDITURE Admin & management (48 545) (1 083) Advertising (61 066) (37 888) Auditors (27 500) (25 000) Bank charges (21 267) (26 612) Computer expenses (1 690) (3 500) Depreciation (35 971) - Employee costs ( ) ( ) Entertainment & travel (53 614) - Fines and penalties (7 721) - Lease rentals ( ) (68 374) Motor vehicle expenses (10 089) - Printing & stationary (9 916) (74 316) Telephone & fax (9 074) (26 616) Sub Total ( ) ( ) Project expenses ( ) ( ) Fair value adjustments (38 764) - Loss on assets sold (6 735) - Total Expenditure ( ) ( ) Surplus (deficit) for the year ( ) (Amounts in South African Rands) page 24 page 25

14 NOTES ACCOUNTABILITY THANKS TO OUR VALUED DONORS page 26 page 27

15 STAY IN TOUCH The Buffelshoek Trust serves the communities of the Acornhoek, Hluvukani and Manyeleti Regions of Mpumalanga, South Africa (please refer to the map on page 6). The first point of contact are our head-offices in Johannesburg, however we also have satellite offices in Utah and Thulamahashe. Julia Cloete Maria Honig Taryn Wilson Monica Mhlanga Alice Barlow-Zambodla Hamilton Mnisi Lulu Mbowane HEAD OFFICE ADDRESS Unit 7B Sheldon Place 5 Lone Close Lonehill Tel: Fax: Photography: Kate Miller ( Design: Greg Lomas ( and Steve Jones ( Printer: Ince (