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25 October 2013

Telkom and ABSA collaborate on CSI initiative

A partnership between Telkom and ABSA today saw the delivery of two fully equipped mobile audio visual libraries to two schools in Soweto, Johannesburg.

The two corporates already have a history of collaboration on Corporate Social Investment initiatives specific to the Africa Technology programme. To this end ABSA is currently involved in a learnership programme within the two schools: Tetelo Secondary School and the Sebetsa Secondary School.

Telkom saw the opportunity of supporting the work done by ABSA and further enhancing the impact in these schools by donating two mobile audio visual libraries and internet connectivity valued at R120 000 each.

The mobile audio visual libraries include the following technology items: a flat screen TV, a DVD player, three laptops and 24 months free Telkom Mobile Internet connectivity.

Additionally each library contains 1000 books of which 100 books are published in indigenous languages. Every library also includes 30 DVDs such as BBC Planet Earth, The Wonders collection and Jock of the Bushveld. The laptops are also loaded with educational software such as Encyclopaedia Britannica and South African Encyclopaedia

Each library is a mobile unit on wheels for easy exchange between classrooms in the schools. The library is also easily converted into a computer lab and contains three lab chairs for easy access and use of the laptops.

Says, Ms Sarah Mthintso, Head of the Telkom Foundation, "This joint initiative with ABSA puts the philosophy of contributing to the greater good of South Africa, through collaboration, into action and the Telkom Foundation is proud to be a part of what is undoubtedly a value-adding enterprise."

Emile Burger, Managing Principal in Africa Technology at Barclays Africa, said: "We are responsible corporate citizens contributing significantly to the communities within which we operate. One of our key aspirations is to leave things better than when we found it. This initiative is part of our Make a Difference campaign to impact the lives of our young people empowering them with life skills, financial skills and enterprise skills. Investing in and developing skills of young people and creating a better world for our youth through this programme is at the heart of our Citizenship approach."

Ms Mthintso notes that such partnerships are not new to Telkom and points several recent examples of collaborative efforts.

"We partner with the Central University of Technology on an Educator Mentorship and Development Programme. Another example is our partnership with the Department of Basic Education to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in rural schools by providing computers, interactive boards and ICT training for educators. Up to now we have now donated computers and connected more than 700 schools to the internet."

Ms Mthintso also referred to the Foundation’s partnership with Mindset Network to provide digital Maths and Science content that is aligned to the curriculum. She also highlighted further partnership with the Department of Basic Education to ICT and Literacy Mobile units to schools.

"These partnerships to resource schools stems from our unwavering belief that ICT can realise a myriad of benefits for both teacher and learner. We simply cannot sidestep the fact that we have to equip future generations for a knowledge-based society. We have to produce knowledge workers. We have to develop digitally literate citizens. The future demands it," concluded Ms Mthintso.

For further enquiries, please contact:

Pynee Chetty

Senior Specialist: Media Relations

Group Communication

Tel:+27 12 642 1716

Mobile: +27 81 389 7874

Email: chettpr2@telkom.co.za

OR

Leigh-Ann Francis

Specialist: Media Relations

Group Communication

Tel: +27 12 642 1728

Mobile: +27 81 391 4780

Email: francilm@telkom.co.za

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92 Oak Avenue

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ABOUT TELKOM:

Telkom is a leading communications services provider in South Africa. We had consolidated operating revenue of R16.8 billion and normalised profit after tax of R1, 683 million for the period ended 30 September 2015. Total assets amounted to R41.9 billion and equity attributable to the owners of Telkom to R23.5 billion as of 30 September 2015. The group generated normalised free cash flow of R1.4 billion for the period ended 30 September 2015.

As of 30 September 2015, we had approximately 3.3 million telephone access lines in service and 1,030,441 ports connected via MSAN access. We offer business, residential and payphone customers a wide range of services and products, including:

  • fixed-line retail voice services using PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) lines, including ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) lines, and the sale of subscription based value-added voice services and calling plans;
  • fixed-line customer premises equipment rental and sales services both voice and data needs and these include PABX, Computers, Routers, Modems, Telephone handsets and other ancillary equipment;
  • interconnection services, including terminating and transiting traffic from South African mobile operators, as well as from international operators and transiting traffic from mobile to international destinations;
  • fixed-line data services, including domestic and international data transmission services, such as point-to-point leased lines, ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) services, packet-based services, managed data networking services and internet access and related information technology services;
  • Data Centre Operations includes e-commerce, application service provider, hosting, data storage, e-mail and security services;
  • W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), a 3G next generation network, including fixed voice services, data services and nomadic voice services;
  • mobile communication services, including voice services, data services and handset sales through our mobile navbar-brand called Telkom Mobile;
  •  information and communication services including cloud services, infrastructure services, workspace services, global service integration management and hardware and network equipment sales locally, in seven African countries, the UK and Dubai through Business Connexion Group; and
  • other services including directory services, through Trudon (Pty) Ltd, wireless data services, through Swiftnet (Pty) Ltd.

Convergence is one of our key strategic initiatives in building a sustainable future for Telkom.  We will lead the provision of converged services in South Africa in support of our mission statement: Seamlessly connecting people to a better life.