Corporate Social Investment
We use our one hundred and twenty-eight years of experience to be your best strategic partner at law. B-BBEE status: Level 1 Contributor.
Overview
At MacRobert Attorneys, we are dedicated to fostering societal progress and enhancing the quality of life through strategic social investments. By collaborating with government bodies, the private sector, non-profit organizations, and civil society, we actively design and implement innovative solutions that promote sustainable development and create prosperous communities for all.
Initiatives
SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE PROCUREMENT
Starting and sustaining a small business in today’s competitive corporate landscape is no easy feat. Entrepreneurs often face significant challenges as they work tirelessly to offer innovative products and services that benefit their communities and consumers.
At MacRobert Attorneys, we are deeply committed to supporting and investing in, procuring and assisting small businesses across South Africa, with a particular focus on those that are majority black-owned and black woman-owned. Our goal is to empower these businesses and contribute to a more equitable and inclusive economy.
We have implemented the following strategies to achieve this:
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Internal Procurement Policy for Supply Chain Transformation:
- We evaluate suppliers based on B-BBEE level, as well as cost and quality factors.
- We require vendors to complete a Vendor Information Form to ensure compliance with our procurement standards.
- We maintain a preferred suppliers list that prioritizes B-BBEE compliant businesses.
- We exercise centralized control to ensure adherence to procurement policies and compliance.
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Empowering Black-Owned Businesses:
- We focus on identifying and supporting suppliers that are more than 51% Black- owned and over 30% Black Women-owned.
- We provide the necessary legal support to help these businesses succeed, whether through existing or new supply chain partnerships.
SMME SUPPORT
At MacRobert Attorneys, we recognize the vital role corporate companies play in contributing generously to the uplifting of South African society.
We are committed to using our legal expertise and resources to support and uplift SMMEs, Social Enterprises and NPOs, helping them maximise their positive impact on communities across the country. Our goal is to enable SMMEs and social enterprises to grow, thrive, and become an integral part of the South African economy.
With over 130 years of legal experience, we believe we are well-positioned to make a meaningful contribution.
Our commitment to supporting B-BBEE legislation is reflected in our efforts to promote skills development, job creation and entrepreneurial growth. We also facilitate synergistic partnerships between the public and private sectors, as well as between large and small enterprises.
At MacRobert Attorneys, we prioritise working with suppliers from previously disadvantaged groups. We expect our suppliers to uphold socially and environmentally responsible practices, comply with relevant laws and regulations and maintain a strong stance against corruption. Our focus on sound management extends to ensuring corruption-free decision-making based on appropriate environmental, occupational health and safety, human rights and labour policies.
In recent years, MacRobert Attorneys has provided substantial legal support to Non-Profit Organisations and small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs). Additionally, we have conducted numerous workshops highlighting the importance of establishing a solid legal foundation for these organisations.
Current SMME Suppliers: MacRobert Attorneys actively partners with several SMMEs, not only utilizing their services but also providing them with complimentary legal advice and support:
EcoLabs Africa
EcoLabs Africa: is a social enterprise focused on enhancing ICT infrastructure in townships and rural schools. By repurposing obsolete, redundant or unserviceable fixed assets (computer equipment), they create computer labs in schools and libraries, empowering students with access to technology.
Yamama Gemmer
Yamama Gemmer (Beverage Supplier): Founded by sisters Rosemary Padi and Mosibudi Makgato, Yamama Gemmer is a business rooted in tradition and family heritage. They have perfected the beloved taste of homemade ginger beer, a staple beverage for traditional ceremonies like weddings, ‘mesebetsi’, ‘mahlabiso’, ‘mafu’ etc. What began as a cherished family recipe passed down from their mother, has evolved into a convenient solution for these important events. Their ginger beer preserves the authentic taste of this heritage beverage by using only natural ingredients without any artificial substitutes, maintaining the skill and tradition that have been made handed down through generations.
Heartfelt
Heartfelt: is a job creation and skills development initiative that utilizes traditional hand craft skills to create and produce unique felt and beading products. What sets Heartfelt apart is its ability to connect rural woman artisans with designers to create innovative, high-quality products that appeal to both local and international markets. MacRobert Attorneys regularly supports this project by sourcing corporate gifts from Heartfelt on a regular basis.
The Runanga Group
The Runanga Group: is 100% black women owned South African company, dedicated to mentoring, training, and development. MacRobert Attorneys actively supports The Runanga Group by providing legal services and being involved with training.
VillageUp Impact
VillageUp Impact is setting up Call Centres in rural South Africa, in Hazyiew. VillageUp Impact is a Social Enterprise operating in collaboration with Good Work Foundation.
The Graduate Institute
The Graduate Institute of South Africa: offers cutting edge global qualifications in ICT, Engineering, Humanities & Business, Finance and Accountancy. MacRobert Attorneys support GISA through various initiatives and legal services.
Eco Acquittal
Eco Acquittal: specializes in eco-friendly treatment solutions for Pit toilets, septic tank & mobile toilets. The company manufactures and distributes environmentally safe products designed to improve sanitation in rural communities. Their mission is to restore health, safety and dignity to individuals who rely on pit toilets.SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
MacRobert Attorneys is dedicated to designing and implementing Socio-Economic and Development (SED) Programmes and Projects.
Our initiative focuses on delivering impactful empowerment, livelihood development, income generation, enterprise growth and poverty alleviation in disadvantaged communities. We are committed to helping our clients fulfil their legislative, charter and global best practise obligations.
We provide Probono legal support to various SED beneficiaries. A few of the Socio-Economic Development organisations supported by MacRobert Attorneys are detailed below:
Good Work Foundation
Since GWF’s founding in 2006, its mission has been to pioneer a learning model for rural Africa that can build affordable and targeted education support structures and transform rural communities. GWF bridges this gap by launching digital learning campuses that serve as hubs for multiple stakeholders living in remote communities.
Feenix
Feenix is a crowdfunding platform dedicated to supporting tertiary students in South Africa. Launched in June 2017, Feenix addresses the significant cost of higher education and the financial stress that can impact student success. The Feenix team composed of young, diverse and passionate individuals, is committed to ensuring that access to education is not determined by one’s financial resources or wealth.
iZinga Assist
iZinga Assist is a digital verification, compliance and ratings agency setting a new standard in charitable giving and bridging the gap between sub-Saharan non-profit organisations and international Donors through the iZinga Assist Platform, empowering non-profits and ensuring impactful donations.
BackaBuddy
BackaBuddy is an African crowdfunding platform for causes ranging from healthcare to disaster relief. Since 2015, they have raised over R550 million from 500,000 global donors for over 44,000 causes.
OneFarm Impact
OneFarm Impact is a funding vehicle that facilitates collaboration and partnership opportunities to drive transformation within Africa's agriculture sector. Leveraging collaborative partnerships and innovative platform technology, OneFarm focuses on driving Africa’s economic growth through commercial and socio-economic development in agriculture. Digitising the agri value chain, enhancing trade transparency, improving access to financial services and bringing together people and services, OneFarm is a multi-faceted, technology driven solution for the agri sector.
UCT GSB Solution Space
The UCT GSB Solution Space is an ecosystem for high-impact early-startups, corporate innovation, and entrepreneurship development & research. They provide an enabling environment in which South Africa’s entrepreneurial talent can work towards building innovation-led, scalable and sustainable enterprises that have a positive impact across our country and beyond.NON-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS
We offer support to a range of entities including non-governmental, non-profit groups, community-based organisations, public benefit corporations, corporate or unincorporated bodies, trusts, foundations and charities. Our focus is on those dedicated to the public interest or working to secure and protect human rights. A few of the Non-Profit organisations supported by MacRobert are detailed below:
The South African Children’s Home
The South African Children’s Home was the first welfare institution established in South Africa. Originally known as the ‘Orphan House’ it was founded in 1808 by Mrs Moller, who was assisted in this task by members of the Groote Kerk and the Evangelical Church, two of the oldest churches in South Africa. Mrs Moller dedicated much of her life to establishing the Children’s Home and upon her death she graciously donated the bulk of her estate to her beloved orphanage. Now more than 200 years later, the Children’s Home continues its care for children by providing a secure, friendly, homely environment for its family of 44 boys and girls.
The Durban Child & Youth Care Centre
The Durban Child & Youth Care Centre (formerly Durban Children’s Home) is a registered NPO (NPO number: 002-363) providing loving care for 74 orphans, destitute and neglected children, deemed by the Children’s Court to be at risk. They are registered with the Department of Social Development and accept children from all over KwaZulu Natal.
Child Welfare Tshwane (CWT)
Child Welfare Tshwane (CWT) is a non-profit Child Protection Organisation that works in the greater Tshwane area. They focus strongly on family preservation as a preventative strategy to child protection. CWT serves the community with a 360°-degree service including Risk Assessment & Family Preservation, Therapy, Foster Care, Adoptions, Mediation as well as a 24-hour residential care facility (Bramley Children’s Home) based in Groenkloof.
The Catholic Women's League
The Catholic Women's League was established in South Africa in 1931. The CWL Family Life and Community Centre is the Welfare Office and social work arm of the Catholic Women's League. Established in 1953 to facilitate adoptions the organization has grown into a recognized provider of a non-discriminatory, professional, developmental welfare and generic social work service. Their work addresses the barriers, inequities and injustices that exist in society. It responds to crises and emergencies as well as to everyday personal and social problems.