OUR EMPOWEREMENT PHILOSOPHY
The sustainable economic empowerment of black women is at the core of WIPHOLD’s business philosophy. For WIPHOLD, empowerment goes beyond traditional corporate social responsibility and is a fundamental part of the company’s values and objectives. Social impact is woven into the fibres of WIPHOLD’s existence and forms the backbone of its purpose and vision:
To create value that could be used to economically empower black women across the country. Social impact guides our organisational strategy, informing both our investment decisions and the structure and shareholding of the WIPHOLD Group.
At inception, WIPHOLD understood its potential to create significant social impact, by influencing the economic landscape, and unlocking and leveraging opportunities to create and build sustainable value.
This is evident in the strategic objectives that guide our mission:
- Create and improve shareholder value.
- Build sustainable business operations and a strong balance sheet.
- Influence the economic landscape for the benefit of women.
- Provide opportunities for talented young black female professionals to operate at senior levels in business.
- Find creative ways to do business in impoverished rural and peri-urban areas that both empowers communities and grows the bottom-line of our company and that of our investee companies.
Our Impact
With seed capital of R500 000, WIPHOLD has grown to a business valued at over R3 billion in 30 years. An even greater measure of our success lies in the social impact we have contributed to, through the distribution of over R281 million to beneficiaries through the WIPHOLD Investment Trust and WIPHOLD NGO Trust.
Through these two entities, WIPHOLD’s unique business model has enabled us to contribute to the economic empowerment of over 200 000 beneficiaries.
2
trusts
19 200
black women
shareholders
1 200 & 18 000
direct & indirect
women beneficiaries
R281 million +
has flowed to these
organisations from
WIPHOLD’s investment activities
WIPHOLD Investment Trust
The WIPHOLD Investment Trust had more than 1,200 direct and 18,000 indirect women beneficiaries. The Trust was a 14.8% shareholder in WIPHOLD, with distributions to beneficiaries flowing from dividends as a result of the shareholding.
Beneficiaries received 80% of each distribution, with the remainder donated to NGOs that benefit women and children. Since its inception in 1997, the Trust distributed over R147-million to the direct women beneficiaries and over R36-million to various NGOs.
Having achieved its empowerment objectives, the WIPHOLD Investment Trust has realised its shareholding in WIPHOLD and given beneficiaries liquidity on their long-held investment. This was achieved in February 2023 when the trustees of the Trust accepted an offer from WIPHOLD to buy back all of the shares that the Trust held in WIPHOLD.
WIPHOLD NGO Trust
WIPHOLD NGO Trust
The WIPHOLD NGO Trust has an 18.4% shareholding in Wiphold, and is a powerful instrument through which the group touches the lives of more than 200 000 black women. This is achieved through supporting a range of NGOs that make up the trust’s indirect beneficiaries.
Our beneficiary organisations:
Women Development Trust Fund
The Women Development Trust Fund is WIPHOLD’s commitment towards leveraging the power of education to change the world. The Trust Fund provides bursaries for learners from disadvantaged schools who want to pursue qualifications in Chartered Accounting, Actuarial Sciences, Agriculture or Engineering. When selecting these learners, WIPHOLD considers both academic performance and community involvement. The bursary covers tuition fees, textbooks, accommodation and a monthly stipend.
Contact our Trust Administrator, Pheladi Tshesane
Post: PO Box 87277, Houghton, 2041
Email: ptshesane@wiphold.com
Tel: +27 11 715 3577
Sponsorships
Brand Ambassador: Caster Semenya
WIPHOLD is a proud sponsor of Mokgadi Caster Semenya, the South African middle-distance runner and world champion. Caster won gold in the women’s 800m at the 2016 Rio Olympics, silver at the 2012 London Olympics, and gold in the women’s 800m at the 2009 World Championships. WIPHOLD has been her sponsor since October 2010.
Mophuthi Matsoso Development Trust
WIPHOLD supports the Lesotho-based Mophuthi Matsoso Development Trust that empowers women and children in rural communities through education and agriculture.
Since 2009 the Trust has run a feeding scheme for vulnerable communities where there is a high number of orphans and destitute elders due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Lesotho. Through the Trust, approximately 200 orphans and elders are fed in the areas of Makhemeng and Mokhotlong.
In 2009, the Trust also established a farming project with farmers in Mamolapo to fight hunger. By collaborating with local farmers,and providing farming equipment, seeds, fertilizer,and diesel supporting over 70 families and cultivating around 900ha of farmland.
The Trust’s flagship education project has substantially improved learning facilities in rural villages within T’sakholo and Thaba Pechela in the district of Mafeteng, which is home to more than 178 000 people. As part of this project, the Trust has transformed the quality of education for these communities by building 21 classrooms; 15 toilets; libraries; computer labs; administration offices; and a cafeteria. It has also provided electricity and sewerage infrastructure.
Khulisani
Foundation
WIPHOLD has been a proud sponsor of the Khulisani Foundation since 2010. It has supported its Campaign for Girls project and, more recently, the Khulisani Agri-academy.
Learn more about their work here.
Girl Child Support
WIPHOLD offers bursaries to over 30 girls to attend and board at Sacred Heart College in Johannesburg. The bursary fund started during the COVID-19 pandemic to enable girl learners to board, so that they could continue to access schooling and pass their Grade 12. The bursary fund continues to this day, enabling young girls from disadvantaged backgrounds to access top quality education and boarding facilities
Women's Sports Programme
WIPHOLD is committed to increasing the presence of black women in the sporting world – specifically tennis and netball. The tennis SA sponsorship has been running since 2018. Through its sporting programme WIPHOLD’s bursary fund is nurturing high performance female players in South Africa and has achieved remarkable progress. Through training camps, international exposure, talent scouting and comprehensive support for players, the programme has paved the way for the emergence of exceptional sporting talent.