Since the dawn of the South African democracy when Samsung entered the African continent through the establishment of the South Africa office, our company has been investing in education-focused Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes for the future, which have now led to positive social changes within the broader African continent.

In our history of Corporate Citizenship in Africa, our CSR activities have been focusing mainly on Education and Skills Development for Employment as well as Sustainability efforts. Our success in the last three decades is also due to our Operational Synergies that were created through our Associations with government institutions and NGOs alike. In the South African context, our CSR programmes are complemented by our already successful landmark multi-million-rand Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP), which was launched in 2019. Our ten-year plan aims to address key developmental aspects linked to the National Development Plan (NDP) and the overall transformation of the economy.

As a company, we also subscribe to the sustainable development goals of the United Nations Development Plan (UNDP). Our advocacy to the United Nations Development Goals (UNDG’s)^* of “Quality Education” and “Reduced Inequalities” aims to improve access to technology, information and communication services for the youth in the continent. For decades, our African operation has  been putting great emphasis on the need to empower the youth. We have done this by ensuring that young people contribute greatly to Africa’s Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) agenda and objectives.

To do this, we needed to ensure that the execution of our CSR strategy is linked and focused 100% on education through technology, targeting mostly the young people in the continent. This has, over time had a positive impact on youth within the regional community. As technology suppliers, we understand the importance of 4IR in the lives of the broad youth base in the continent and most importantly; access to new technologies.

^*Source: UNDP Report: https://books.google.co.za/books?hl=en&lr=&id=ARtZEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA89&dq=Managing+inclusive+digital+transformation,+lessons+from+100+countries&ots=Hofj6JhvJI&sig=k2vZvDUf13fZG8zbvgWmfuvp1gM

We have therefore been striving to use technology to develop future innovators for a better world. Our youth in Africa is currently in a positive position to seize the opportunities ahead.

We have undertaken a number of forward-thinking CSR initiatives in order to empower the youth of tomorrow. As a legacy programme of Solve for Tomorrow and Samsung Innovation Campus, Samsung Engineering Academy aimed to address the shortages in technical and engineering skills in the continent by educating the next generation from 2012 to 2020. Hundreds of graduates from countries such as South Africa, Nigeria and more completed the programme successfully, emerging as changemakers to lead innovation for years to come. Additionally, we launched the Women Technical Programme and Boys to Men initiative in South Africa in 2018 to provide technical education opportunities to disadvantaged students, and the Coding Academy in Rwanda in 2021 to equip students with the latest knowledge in coding and software development.

In addition, as an organisation that is well aware of the great importance of education, we have in recent years continued our quest of equipping young people both in high school and tertiary level with the skills and knowledge they will need to build a better world. As a company, we have launched many skills development initiatives aimed at addressing Africa’s digital divide. Over the past few years, we have been able to put technology in the hands of the youth from under-served communities and provided them with smart classrooms in the form of ICT Innovation Hubs or Smart Labs.

These Innovation Hubs or Smart Labs created access to computer literacy, the internet, basic IT and coding skills in remote communities and they included the following:

• An investment into an ICT Project where an ICT Innovation Hub was unveiled aimed at benefitting the community in Kwa-Zulu Natal School.
• We set up an Innovation Campus (Innovation Hub) in Agona Swedru in the Central Region aimed at leveraging technology to support the dreams of young Ghanaians. In this Hub, we housed a series of coding programmes where young children between the ages of 5-to-17 years in public basic schools in the community were trained on technology and coding.
• And furthermore, we donated an Innovation Hub in Lagos, Nigeria.

From the ICT Innovation Hubs, we evolved into the global Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition. As a result, the Solve for Tomorrow competition based on Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) was launched for the first time in Africa in 2023.

Recently launched and piloted in 51 schools across South Africa, this programme is providing learners in grade 10 and 11 from underserved communities an opportunity to gain invaluable skills, while solving some of the challenges within their communities. Learners are encouraged to use STEM to find solutions to some of the most pressing societal challenges faced by their communities. The launch event that was held in March was used as a platform to announce the 2023 Top 10 schools who were going through to Phase Two (2).

At this stage, they had an opportunity to tackle a challenge and produce tangible innovations to help improve issues within their communities. With Samsung helping them with resources and mentors guiding them, the learners had to conduct research and develop prototypes for the challenges they had identified. For their efforts, Mbilwi Secondary School from Venda in Limpopo walked away with the first prize, while second place was taken by Maphuthaditshaba Secondary from Acornhoek (Mpumalanga) and in third place, it was Umlazi Comprehensive Tech from Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Through the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) programme, we have successfully partnered with universities of technology including the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) in the Eastern Cape and the Central University of Technology (CUT) in the Free State to develop and teach coding, software development, internet of things (IOT) and artificial intelligence (AI) skills to youth from under-serviced communities.

We have further expanded the SIC into other African countries such as Lesotho and entered into partnerships with Lerotholi Polytechnic (LP) as well as the National University of Lesotho (NUL).

There is an upcoming SIC graduation of the first cohort in Lesotho on 03 November 2023. Also, we are currently working on further growing the SIC programme by rolling it out into the rest of Africa, into territories including Kenya, Malawi, Namibia and Nigeria.

Furthermore, some of our successful legacy education programmes that have not only seen youth being empowered and comfortable in the technology space, but also employable with positive ripple effects on their families include the following:

• As part of the EEIP, we sponsored a 24-month SETA accredited Air-conditioning and Refrigeration apprenticeship programme which trained about 40 selected apprentices who had never been exposed to technology before. Recently, 38 of these youth graduated as well as two that received certificates of attendance, to work with mentors to grow their skills and address ICT education for SA’s unemployed youth.

• In 2020, as part of addressing the country’s critical shortage of technicians to service consumer electronics and hand-held devices, we sponsored a 12-month SETA accredited Electronics apprenticeship programme. Through the EEIP programme, about 41 learners were enrolled in two cohorts for the 1^st phase of the programme with the aim of empowering youth from rural areas and townships by equipping them with much-needed skills to land employment or start their own businesses. The programme had broad reach in terms of participants as it has attracted candidates from the north, south, midland and coastal areas of Kwa-Zulu Natal. In 2022, this programme was expanded to include the Eastern Cape .

With these CSR initiatives that are designed to make a difference to all people, we are striving to ensure that students and learners are empowered to ultimately grow and build a better future for themselves, their families and the African community at large.

Samsung proudly supports Busan’s bid for the World Expo 2030.

Impacted by KZN Looting

Revamped and reloaded, the store has enhanced the customer experience even more

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 29 July 2022 – In July 2021 the Samsung Customer Service Centre in Riverhorse Valley was one of many businesses impacted by the looting in KZN. Due to the severe damage, Samsung had to look for new premises in order to re-build. This is why the company is proud to announce that the redesigned location is now open. Ready to once again service its many customers in the area, the Customer Service Centre has been reimagined to reflect its commitment to an enhanced level of customer care.

“Samsung made its intentions clear in the aftermath of the looting including the minimising of job losses and joining the call to #RebuildSouthAfrica. Working together, our people have overcome the impact of the unprecedented disruption to business by focussing on a relocation and rebuild that reflects our ever-evolving innovation in providing enhanced customer service and peace of mind. We are enjoying welcoming back customers, who we can once again can support with our professional expertise, “said Paul Croll, Director of Customer Service at Samsung South Africa.

Samsung also announced the exciting launch of its Mobile Eco Repair service, which offers reduced costs on phone and screen repairs using a pioneering process that has limited impact on the environment – in line with its larger sustainability and e-waste efforts. This service is available to all Samsung customers.

The cutting-edge service centre is fully dedicated to making sure your Samsung product gets the care and attention it deserves through efficient updates and repairs. The Wi-Fi enabled centre also welcomes those wanting to update their knowledge on new Samsung products. Sanjay Bhagat’s Customer Service Centre’s team of internationally trained Samsung technicians are fully ready to help ensure that every visit is an incredible experience.

Due to the recent flash flooding in the KZN Province, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a national emergency, with many lives lost and homes destroyed. It is in the light of this distressing situation that Samsung South Africa has decided to respond in service of the country. Samsung has made its Service Programme and resources available to support to those who are in need within the region.

Effective immediately, Samsung South Africa will launch its Service Campaign Plan in order to help alleviate some of the suffering caused, in the wake of this event. Samsung believes that those returning and re-building their affected homes deserve the comfort of appliances that are in working order, which is why the company, a dedicated internal team and appliance partners are ready to assist. The Samsung KZN Service Campaign includes:

• Free Product Cleaning on all brands [Including Samsung and non-Samsung products]
• Free Product Assessment & Insurance Notice on Samsung products
• Discounted Repair Service, including free Labour and discounted parts
• Drop off Points at Makro Stores with Free Disposal of Irreparable Units

The campaign runs from 25 April to 8 May 2022, with possible extensions based on demand. The service will be made available at drop-off points at Makro stores in Durban North (Cornubia), Central Durban (Springfield), and Durban South (Amanzimtoti).

The products eligible for aid are refrigerators, dishwashers, microwave ovens, washing machines, washing machine dryers, TV’s and Audio Visual products^*. This campaign will include product cleaning services for non-Samsung brands. Samsung’s supporting partners consists of 3 major Makro stores within the Durban vicinity.

Find out more here:

• Call Centre: 0860 726 7864 / 0860 727 2786
• WhatsApp Line: 083 726 7864
• Email: zaservice@samsung.com

¹ Terms and conditions apply. Only home appliances will be eligible for this service plan.

Samsung Electronics South Africa has donated 20 smartphones to non-governmental organisation (NGO), Gift of the Givers South Africa, in an effort to support communications within the association’s emergency teams.
 
Badr Kazi, Corporate Liaison Manager at Gift of the Givers South Africa, says that advanced and reliable mobile connectivity is crucial for the organisation’s various specialist teams. “When our workers are assisting at the scene of a crisis, effective communications is quite simply a matter of life and death,” he says.
 
Kazi explains that Gift of the Givers teams must coordinate their operations under extreme conditions, often where telecommunications and power infrastructure has been destroyed. “With the assistance of our sponsors, we typically set up a portable hot spot and organise our operations using mobile phones. In a situation such as the aftermath of a natural catastrophe, these mobile phones have to be very reliable, rugged and easy to use, as well as deliver long battery life. We were therefore delighted to receive the advanced smartphones from Samsung, which meet every requirement we have for communications in areas that have experience devastation.”
 
Samsung donated a range of handsets with features ideal for this nature of critical work. Among them were the Galaxy K Zoom, a phone-camera hybrid with 20.7 MP camera ideal for recording and sharing information about critical scenes and the Chat 333, with automatic chat group features ideal for collaborative communications by teams.
 
“Samsung smartphones’ durable design, broad range of intelligent features and long-lasting batteries will make them invaluable tools for supporting the important work Gift of the Givers rescue teams carry out. We always aim to be a catalyst to the betterment of people’s lives and are particularly proud of this initiative due to its potential to positively impact so many,” says Michelle Potgieter, Director: Corporate Marketing and Communications at Samsung Electronics South Africa.
 
Gift of the Givers has a large team comprising of disaster, emergency and ambulance services units. The response workers, led by Head of Search and Rescue Dr Ahmed Bham, have attended serious incidents around the world, including launching field operations during the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and setting up hospitals in Syria.
 
“We are extremely grateful to Samsung for this donation, which will go a long way to ensuring our workers are able to operate effectively in affected areas. Our management services will benefit greatly from advanced mobile capabilities we now have access to,” continues Kazi.
 
“Samsung Electronics is a company that makes incredibly smart devices in an effort to simplify the everyday lives of people globally, as well as a responsible corporate organisation and active contributor to our communities. This partnership embodies our ethos and commitment to these values,” Potgieter concludes.