Strategy
The Trust has placed access to education as a top priority in the life of the nation. Testimony of this is the building of about 6 000 schools on a rand for rand basis, establishing almost 10 teachers colleges, the establishment of the Mangosuthu University of Technology, to name just a few.
Our main purpose is to explore innovative ways to strengthen the education sector in South Africa and in Southern Africa at large. One of our primary objectives is to construct a strategic plan for equitable, inclusive and quality education for all by 2030 and to strengthen South Africa’s higher education sector through enhancing academic training, research, and retention.
An element that forms a great part of our vision is the area of Economic Development. We are committed to and have actively participated in the field of social investment. We have noted that, in recent times, black entrepreneurs have found it increasingly difficult to access seed capital from commercial banks in South Africa.
Through Ithala Bank, which was found by Prince Buthelezi, businesses were started and land was productively farmed. The Prince has established the KwaZulu Finance and Investment Corporation and Ithala Bank to assist those people who could not get loans because of the legacy of Apartheid.
CULTURAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC: We firmly believe in the preservation of our traditional African structures and ideals, which essentially gave root to the ideals of Ubuntu. This also entails the preservation of our African heritage throughout the country.
He also ensured the protection of the House of Traditional Leaders through the inclusion of such rights in Chapter 7 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. He was instrumental in the construction of the Kings’ graves at Emakhosini and elsewhere which are monuments to commemorate Zulu Kings.
POVERTY ALLEVIATION: Poverty can have adverse effects on the socio-economic landscape of any nation. This can in turn have a negative effect on social cohesion. The Trust believes that the corporate sector can address this by providing financing options and skills training to disadvantaged people and communities. Skills training helps citizens acquire the abilities to qualify for quality jobs. Financing helps poor communities set up cooperatives and enterprises to lift them.
Providing women with economic opportunities is another opportunity for companies to help alleviate poverty. If women are trained to be entrepreneurs, they can achieve financial stability independent of their husbands. In the event their husbands are unable to work, they can continue providing for their families, and their children’s quality of life will not be compromised.
Investing in women is crucial in balancing the socio-economic scales because we envision that if women have enough funds for food, healthcare, education and other benefits for their family, their children have better opportunities to grow into healthy, educated and competent adults, translating to a highly productive workforce and viable consumer base.
“AIDS is the biggest challenge, the major disaster facing this country and we would have wished for something more specific and far-reaching.”
Our aim is utilise our influence to bring treatment to KwaZulu and South Africa. We have scheduled a number of programs that are concerned with some of this nation’s most vulnerable populations, such as youth, the elderly people, low-income communities, immigrants, and people of colour. We are set to be instrumental in ending thousands of preventable deaths through equitable, health systems in various communities around the country.
Prince Buthelezi was instrumental in establishing many health facilities across KwaZulu-Natal including one of the largest hospitals in the country which is named after his uncle Prince Mshiyeni Ka Dinizulu.
The Trust intends to work with various organs of government and national stakeholders to improve gender responsiveness in their national sector strategies and policies through funding training and technical assistance for women. We hope to achieve this through knowledge mobilization and advocacy to influence policy. We shall be actively seeking out collaboration with various other NGO’s, Funds and other organizations to address the needs of adolescent girls; and improved evaluation and reporting of gender equality in education.
Providing women with economic opportunities is another opportunity for companies to help alleviate poverty. If women are trained to be entrepreneurs, they can achieve financial stability independent of their husbands. In the event their husbands are unable to work, they can continue providing for their families, and their children’s quality of life will not be compromised.
Investing in women makes good business sense. If women have enough money for food, healthcare, education and other benefits for their family, their children have better opportunities to grow into healthy, educated and competent adults, translating to a highly productive workforce and viable consumer base.