Neotel sink hole in one

Katlego Mashego, Gerald Sibeko, Reneliwe Letsholonyane and Daine Klate

The first of the events took place today (18 October 2010) at Royal Johannesburg Country Club, with a full field of 220 enthusiastic golfers. The chosen charities of the event were three-fold: HABIT (caring for HIV/ AIDS babies and children); I care (caring and providing guidance for street children) and Nanga Vhutshilo (cares for HIV/ AIDS children).

Prior to the first swing getting under way, it was the chance of the professional soccer players to try their hand, namely Katlego Mashego, Reneliwe Letsholonyane, Daine Klate and Gerald Sibeko. Having never played golf before, the players were assisted by Ernie Els' caddie, Ricky Roberts as they each got taught how to drive, put and chip.

Neotel donated in excess of R50 000 for the chosen charities. Some of the on course activities included a rent a crowd ensuring all players feel as special as Neotel believes them to be.

Chief Marketing Officer, Jacky Humphries, is delighted with the first of three events, "Today was about getting to know our clients and customers better - to learn who they are as people and what their business needs are. We trust that our on course activities inspired both the golfers as well as our chosen charities."

Additional information on Neotel:

Neotel is a telecommunications network operator that caters for wholesale, business and home customer needs. We deliver services that reduce the cost of doing business through the optimal use of advanced technologies. We are South Africa's first converged telecommunications network operator. This means that voice, data and Internet is now offered over a single connection.

We provide a range of value-added voice, internet and data services for business, wholesale network operators, network providers and consumers. In other words from the telephone handset at home to the data centres that have become the epicentres of local and international business. . Additional services include Virtual Private Networks, hosting and satellite services. Our various telecommunications licences, Electronic Communication Network Service License and Electronic Communication Network License, allow us to provide the entire range of telecommunications services. Neotel covers all major metropolitan areas of South Africa. Our coverage expands on a regular basis.

Diversity - South Africa's strength is reflected in our shareholding. United in purpose, our shareholding embodies vast global as well as local telecoms experience, giving us greater impetus to achieve our objectives.

Our strategic equity partner, the Tata Group of India - through VSNL and Tata Africa Holdings Pty (Ltd) - brings immense expertise derived from its worldwide telecommunications operations. This partnership gives Neotel access to international best practice and the latest technical innovations.

Nexus Connexion, our Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) equity partner, has a broad based constituency which includes women and youth groups. Developmental NGOs, labour unions and businesses are represented by individuals and corporates.

Two private consortia - Communitel and Two Consortium bring additional international and African experience through their various shareholders, including TelecomNamibia.

Charity information:

HABIT (HIV Abandoned Babies & Infants Trust) is a registered Non-Profit Organisation (056/364) and has been operating in KwaZulu-Natal for the past three years. They care for HIV/AIDS Affected & Abandoned Babies, providing them with a caring environment in which they are nurtured physically, emotionally and spiritually.

They have two homes operating on Umhlanga Ridge just north of Durban. These homes can each accommodate up to six infants at a time, caring for them in the transition phase between abandonment and placement in a permanent caring family.

They are committed to the creation of a loving, stable, safe and peaceful South Africa for all. Their goals and objectives are:

• Providing a happy, loving home for orphaned, abandoned and /or HIV/AIDS infected/affected babies on a transitional basis in the greater Durban area.
• Providing necessary healthcare, including inoculations and testing.
• Ensuring our babies HIV status is correctly identified as many are labeled positive but have not had the PCR test which tests for the actual virus.
• Providing ongoing training and skills development for caregivers.
• Following due legal process involved in providing transitional foster care for infants.
• Working closely with Child Welfare when having babies adopted or fostered.
• Being ambassadors for our nation when hosting overseas adoption parents.
• Helping others begin a Habit baby house in their area.
• Working with other similar NGO's to maximise resources and provide support.

• Upholding the values of justice, mercy and compassion for all God's people.

www.habit.org.za

I Care - giving street kids a future

Mission

I Care is a non-profit organisation devoted to finding meaningful and sustainable solutions to the challenge of street children in South Africa.

Vision

I Care boasts a beautiful rehabilitation centre in Kwa Makutha on the South Coast of KZN.

Children from our Johannesburg and KZN operations go through rehabilitation at this centralized centre. Once children have made the decision to change their lives and ultimately come off the streets, I care takes them through a three-month rehabilitation course called the Khuthaza ADP (Adolescent Development Programme). The boys are housed in dormitories of no more than 10 and a house master is allocated to each group. Over and above ADP , boys are taught routine, discipline and most importantly, the Gospel. Together, our Khuthaza teams brings over 20 years experience to the Child Care environment

After successfully completing rehabilitation, former street children who are unable to return home are placed in the care of an I Care family home in Lower Illovo on the South Coast of KZN. Each home houses six children and is run by house parents.

Once children have either completed schooling or are at an age where they are not going to close the gaps in their schooling, I Care assists with placing them into a working environment or a skills programme.

www.icare.co.za

Nanga Vhutshilo is a home and community-based HIV & AIDS support programme for children in need of care and support, as well as their caregivers and families. It is situated on the premises of Nonto Primary School on 250 Koma Road in Dlamini, Soweto. Nanga Vhutshilo was born out of the work of the parent body, Community Action, a positive life programme for people living with HIV and AIDS. It has been in operation for over two years and provides food and other essential services to over 300 children in need, mainly those who are HIV positive or have lost their parents due to AIDS.

Nanga Vhutshilo is driven by community members such as Ma Sibongile who believes that through community mobilisation, people can make a difference against the impact of HIV & AIDS. The conviction of the project further encompasses the fact that care and provision of basic needs enables the community to sustain children and family members left behind once the bread winners of the family have passed on.

1. Project Objectives

• To assist children in need to grow up as productive members of society
  
• Strengthening of family structures to enhance moral regeneration
  
• Promote prevention of HIV infection
  
• Conduct campaigns and services aimed at de-stigmatising HIV and provide education on Living Positively
  
• Network with other NGO's with similar objectives and develop skills of small operations for programme implementation and replication

2. Project Mission

"Nanga Vhuthilo seeks to empower families (with a focus on the children), to take responsibility, achieve independence and realise their potential."

Believing that it takes a community to raise a child, we seek to empower the Soweto community to love, protect, educate and provide access to good health for their children. Ultimately we wish to replicate the operational model to serve many other communities in SA and then Southern Africa.

www.nangavhutshilo.co.za