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Welcome to

Makwande
Empowerment Trust!

Impact Statement

“The holistic empowerment of black youth, women and communities in rural and peri-urban areas affected by the legacy of poverty and inequality.”

More about us

Our history

Makwande emerged from the Distell Development Trust, established in 2005. Following the merger between Distell and HEINEKEN, which resulted in a new company called HEINEKEN Beverages in 2023, we embarked on a strategic transformation. This included a name change reflecting our renewed focus on empowerment and a significant expansion of our reach.

Join us in the empowerment of marginalised women and youth in rural and peri-urban communities.

2024 Calendar Year Stats

Learners empowered through skills training

SMMEs empowered through business mentorship

Jobs created accross youth-led and community based projects

Beneficiaries supported through education initiatives

Farmers produced R6.2 million worth of vegetables

Investing in communities

The Makwande Empowerment Trust works with over 27 NGOs known as beneficiary partners that operate in several sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and education.

These beneficiary partners are spread across eight different provinces in South Africa. Such a broad footprint indicates the Makwande Empowerment Trust’s widespread reach and unwavering dedication to supporting our beneficiary partners as they tackle a variety of social and community development issues at the local and national levels.

Corporate governance

The Makwande Empowerment Trust is an important contributor to Heineken’s BBBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) score. Since the Trust is required to operate as a B-BOS (Broad-based Ownership Scheme) the Trust’s contribution is to the ownership element rather than the socio-economic Development element. The B-BBEE points are awarded as long as the Trust fulfils its mandate as a B-BOS in terms of the Trust Deed. Fulfilment is assessed by Heineken’s B-BBEE advisors who provide an ICPR (Independent Competent Person’s Report).

Initiatives

Through the strategic relationship with HEINEKEN Beverages, Makwande is poised for greater impact and enables us to have increased resources to expand and deepen our presence in communities. Our work with beneficiary partners illustrates our commitment to long-term transformation and creating a more equitable and prosperous future for all South Africans. The beneficiary partners do “work of heart” in communities around

South Africa with the aim of improving the conditions of communities they serve.