Established in 2016, the Lesedi (Sesotho word meaning Light) was created to recognize our employees who have taken ownership of the responsibility we all have to work for the betterment of less fortunate communities. We wanted employees to know that we recognise the things that are important to them, and support them as people who care for and are concerned about the well-being of their communities. Lesedi is our proof point that we are geared to purposeful volunteer work, which supports people from all walks of life to reach their goals and life aspirations, notwithstanding the many challenges they might face. Every year, nominees for these awards demonstrate their commitment to work that speaks to the needs of people, as opposed to volunteer work done for own personal gain. There are eight categories within which nominees are evaluated on the extent to which they give life to the Momentum Metropolitan values of teamwork, integrity, diversity, accountability and Innovation, as well as its impact and sustainability. Because we believe we learn while we serve, the extent to which personal growth occurred because of the volunteering is also being taken into account. All the nominees receive a contribution to the causes where they have volunteered.
The individual whose involvement in volunteer initiatives best aligns with our approach to volunteerism. Purposeful community-centered volunteerism.
Winner: Elias Monare for exhibiting teamwork and accountability to our fellow men and playing an active role in the community of Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria.
A group of people who could be from different business areas but work together as a team on volunteer initiatives, and whose contribution best aligns with our approach of purposeful community-centred volunteerism.
Winner: Durban CSI Team for their work with orphans, vulnerable children and abused women.
This special award is dedicated to the business leader who consistently shows support for staff volunteer efforts and who leads by example by volunteering on their own.
Winner: Kim Chonguica for leading a group of colleagues in supporting the Walter Sisulu Primary School by buying sanitary towels and toiletries for young girl.
For a team or individual who does not reside in South Africa and volunteers in their own time out of their own accord and whose work best aligns with our approach to volunteerism.
Winner: Maliako Koatja for being a committed volunteer at the Juvenile Training Center at the Lesotho Correctional Services, a detention center for children who have had issues with the law.
This award is dedicated to the volunteer champion who goes above and beyond what is required of him or her.
Winner: Mildred Majadibodu for single handedly managing and co-coordinating all Group CSI projects in Sandton. Her team spirit, proactive thinking, diligence, energy and flexibility are all an asset to her volunteering service.
For an individual registered on the Momentum Metropolitan Forgood platform who has the highest completed actions from the platform and who is rated above average by the causes he or she volunteered with.
Winner: Susan Prinsloo
For the highest and most consistent payroll giver between August 2019 and July 2020.
Winner: Mthandazo Khumalo on behalf of Anonymous – Durban
This award is handed to an individual or a team that has best exemplified all of the Momentum Metropolitan volunteering values.
Winner: Elias Monare
The individual whose involvement in volunteer initiatives best aligns with our approach to volunteerism. In other words, purposeful community-centred volunteerism.
Winner: Seema Singh for spearheading disaster response initiatives and other community outreach programmes.
A group of people who could be from different business areas but work together as a team on volunteer initiatives, and whose contribution best aligns with our approach of purposeful community-centred volunteerism.
Winner: The Haditchi2 and Cubicles for their collaboration with Vuka Skhokho in dismantling drug trade in schools and providing support structures for youth in disadvantaged communities.
This special award will be dedicated to the business leader who consistently shows support for staff volunteer efforts and volunteers on a regular basis. This person leads by example.
Winner: Simon Sibeko for garnering much needed support for the Christ Church Christian Care Centre.
A team or individual who does not reside in South Africa and volunteers in their own time out of their own accord and whose work best aligns with our approach to volunteerism.
Winner: Kennedy Kwaku Antwi from Ghana for his work in conservation and education.
This award will be dedicated to the volunteer champion who goes above and beyond what is required.
Winner: Seema Singh for consistently giving of her time, effort and enthusiasm towards CSI initiatives.
Momentum Metropolitan Forgood is our online volunteering platform.
Winner: Susan Prinsloo for volunteering at the Differently Abled Cricket Club (DACC) and Epilepsy South Africa.
The highest and most consistent payroll giver between July and August the previous year.
Winner: Winner: Marius Cilliers for contributions to the Phakamani Young Minds Academy.
This award will be given to one of the winners of the above-mentioned nine categories.
Winner: Kennedy Kwaku Antwi from Ghana.
The individual whose involvement in volunteer initiatives best aligns with our approach to volunteerism. In other words, purposeful community-centred volunteerism.
Winner: Clinton van Boomen for building strong support systems for Victory Kids center for children with Learning difficulties.
A group of people who could be from different business areas but work together as a team on volunteer initiatives, and whose contribution best aligns with our approach of purposeful community-centred volunteerism.
Winner: Durban CSI Team for their work with orphans, vulnerable children and abused women.
This special award will be dedicated to the business leader who consistently shows support for staff volunteer efforts and volunteers on a regular basis. This person leads by example.
Winner: Grace Masehela for volunteering with her team in public hospitals and early childhood development centers.
A team or individual who does not reside in South Africa and volunteers in their own time out of their own accord and whose work best aligns with our approach to volunteerism.
Winner: Kennedy Kwaku Antwi from Ghana for his work in conservation and education.
This award will be dedicated to the volunteer champion who goes above and beyond what is required.
Winner: Seema Singh for spearheading disaster response initiatives.
Momentum Metropolitan Forgood is our online volunteering platform.
Winner: Esther Moloi for mentoring and coaching vulnerable youth.
The highest and most consistent payroll giver between July and August the previous year.
Winner: Marius Cilliers for contributions to the Tshwane School of Music..
This award will be given to one of the winners of the above-mentioned nine categories.
Winner: Durban CSI Team
Seventh Day Adventist, Lyn Muzondo and her outreach team uplift the community of Blikkiesdorp with bible services and prayer for the sick. Muzondo’s team offers meals, medical support, and gardening tips to the community. The team also promotes healthy living amongst children and motivate young women with advice to equip them for a better future.
Business Leader Award
Kennedy Kwaku Antwi, the President of Bodomase Youth Development Organisation, joined an MP to secure positions for young apprentices with 25 artisans in Ghana. Amongst their other projects, BYDO has donated PPE, food, sporting equipment and uniforms to schools and led a tree-planting initiative across campuses.
International Award
Archibald Ayiteyadjin, the President of the Lions Club International (Ghana), engaged with Nima Polyclinic to build a much-needed laundromat for the community. After arranging the feasibility study, the project received the green light and was completed within nine months.
Seema Singh is a veteran volunteer that motivated her team to pack Santa shoe boxes over and above giving funds for our Holiday Drive. During the KZN crisis, she worked with Food for Life to raise funds, prepare hampers, and secure grocery sponsors to support the affected and vulnerable.
Thelma Scholtz volunteers and contributes a portion of her monthly income to Fisantekraal Centre for Development. She prepares a weekly meal in her kitchen to feed the less fortunate and has been supporting a community widower and his three young sons for over two years. Scholtz collects clothing for the community and wishes to start her own NGO.
Exceptional Volunteer Champion
The Legacy Solutions Team partnered with Atlantic Hope, an organisation that looks after children in need of child protection services. The team combined their Youth Day and Mandela Day efforts to double their impact in raising funds to buy bassinets for the safety and comfort of each child.
Rowan Burger serves on the council of Masibambane College, a NPO school based in Orange Farm, with 1200 learners and 50 teachers. Burger stepped in as both Acting Chairperson and as a Headmaster, to help steady finances and navigate the school through the crises of Covid-19 and unrest.
Marileze Johannes volunteers at the San Michelle Independent School in rural Atlantis. Whilst fundraising to build a new classroom, she arranges donations to feed learners each week. Along with Skills for Life, they mentor staff to maintain a veggie garden and created a student’s fitness programme to boost health and mental fitness.
Individual Award
Mologadi Mathosa has a passion for reading and its impact on developing young minds. She enabled the launch of #InspireZAReadingChampion on social platforms – an initiative that brought culturally diverse volunteers together, to read for audiences each week.
Linette Van Tiddens volunteers for BADISA Trio Child Protection Services to secure food, toiletries, toys and clothing donations for families in need who foster abused children. She also lends her skills to market the POPPIE Project for specialised therapies for these vulnerable children.
Individual Award
Derelene Motse joined the ‘Cold Front Sleeps’ project for the homeless in Cape Town, providing meals and a warm place to sleep during Winter’s cold fronts. Derelene volunteered to cook and make sandwiches for delivery to shelters in Belville and Parow.
Reagan is the force behind training4changeS, empowering young leaders with essential life skills and values through sport. He provides academic support and fuels financial support for disadvantaged learners, enabling access to quality education.
Liz Browne volunteers at the i4118 Foundation that mentors children to become responsible contributors in their communities, lining them up to mentor those that follow. Liz has inspired two girls for the two past years to help them grow confidence and excel, both at school and at home.
Individual Award
Ain’t no mountain high enough to keep girls from education. Hope Nyalungu volunteers for The Tebogo Kgonyane Foundation, named after her brother who summited Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for sanitary towels and passed away from Covid-19. Hope leads hikes to Drakensberg, Cullinan and Groenkloof to continue Tebogo’s legacy.
Individual Award
Lesego Godana, Chairperson of Fat Cats Athletic Club, hosts fundraising events for disadvantaged learners. They have donated school uniforms to over 100 pupils to help poverty-stricken families, provide sanitary wear for girls, and provide motivational talks to learners during their handover visits.
Individual Award
Forgood.co.za is our online volunteerism partner that matches individuals to the NGOs they are passionate about. Karin Du Toit is our most active and highly rated employee volunteer on this platform, she personifies our values of accountability, integrity, and teamwork.
Lance Raftesath has consistently contributed a portion of his monthly income to our Corporate Social Investment beneficiaries for the past year. Raftesath also volunteers for the Wim Els Diversity Fund, demonstrating his commitment to doing good and giving back.
Over the years the awards saw exponential growth since its inception in 2016. On average 25 non-profits receive support annually as nominees are recognised for their work with these organisations.
