Moved by the work of a family run NPO that supports desperate residents of Alexandra township, Engen employee Nkateko Mabale has used the company’s Employee Community Partnership Programme (ECPP) to help support members of her immediate community. 

Mabale, who is employed as an analyst in Engen’s Corporate Social Investment department, applied for support for the Keabetswe Sechaba NPO through Engen’s ECPP. 

Engen’s ECPP seeks to create meaningful partnerships between Engen employees who are involved in community upliftment initiatives, and their local communities, and thereby foster a caring company ethos. 

Keabetswe Sechaba was launched at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 by Constance Diseko and her two sons, Lebogang and Tsholofelo. 

Amidst dire poverty in the sprawling Johannesburg township, the philanthropic family are determined to do their part and give back to those less fortunate by providing monthly grocery hampers to hungry households. 

“We mainly focus on supporting child headed families, the elderly and families without food,“ explains Lebogang, who acts as treasurer of Keabetswe Sechaba. 

“Our beneficiaries have come to rely on the food parcels we distribute every month, which has created happier homes and helped to reduce crime in the area,” he adds. 

Mabale chose to support the organisation because she believes in the work that they are doing.   

“With very little backing, Constance and her sons have helped address dire impoverishment faced by some members of the Alexandra community, says Mabale.  

“As a humanitarian, this is close to my heart and I appreciate the positive impact the organisation is making.” 

Engen commends Nkateko Mabale for showing commitment and playing a leading role to make a difference, says the company’s General Manager: Human Resources, Ivershini Reddy. 

“By identifying Keabetswe Sechaba, Nkateko’s efforts are helping to uplift the community,” says Reddy. 

“This is the very aim of the Employee Community Partnership Programme, which seeks to create meaningful partnerships between Engen employees who are involved in community upliftment initiatives, and their local communities, and thereby further foster a caring company ethos.” 

Keabetswe Sechaba was eligible for a R5 000 ECPP grant from Engen.