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Empowering Communities, Building Confidence, and Growing Africa’s Future
Across Africa, millions of people wake up every day with the same simple hope: to live with dignity, to earn an income, to educate their children, and to feel secure about tomorrow. Behind these everyday hopes are systems that either enable people to move forward — or quietly hold them back. Sanlam has chosen to be part of the system that enables progress.
Founded over a century ago, Sanlam has grown into one of Africa’s leading financial services groups, operating across high-potential emerging markets on the continent. But beyond balance sheets and products, Sanlam is driven by a clear and human purpose: to empower generations to be financially confident, secure, and prosperous. This purpose is not just spoken — it is lived through action.
A Business That Understands Africa
Sanlam understands that Africa’s growth does not begin in boardrooms alone. It begins in homes, schools, small businesses, stokvels, and communities. It begins with education, financial knowledge, opportunity, and inclusion. This understanding has shaped Sanlam’s long-term commitment to sustainability, transformation, and shared value.
In 2024, Sanlam invested R24.5 billion in empowerment financing and R155 million in corporate social investment initiatives globally. These numbers reflect a belief that sustainable business growth and social development must move together. Sanlam’s recognition as Sustainable Business of the Year at the 2024 Oliver Top Empowerment Awards further affirms this commitment.
The Sanlam Foundation: Turning Purpose into Impact
At the heart of Sanlam’s community work is the Sanlam Foundation, established in 2011 as a registered public benefit organisation. The Foundation exists to give practical expression to Sanlam’s social conscience — investing in people, strengthening communities, and addressing the root causes of inequality.
Since its establishment, the Sanlam Foundation has invested over R858 million in programmes focused on education, financial literacy, health, water security, enterprise and supplier development, and staff volunteerism.
In 2024 alone, the Foundation reached 482,773 beneficiaries, significantly expanding its reach compared to previous years.
What sets the Sanlam Foundation apart is its deliberate shift from once-off sponsorships to long-term developmental programmes. Its work is guided by a clear theory of change that seeks to reduce inequality, stimulate job creation, deepen financial inclusion, promote social development, and protect the environment — all in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Investing Early: Education as the Foundation of Confidence
Sanlam believes that confidence begins early. Through its education programmes, the Sanlam Foundation focuses on early childhood development (ECD) and primary education, particularly in low-income and rural communities across South Africa.
In 2024, the Foundation supported more than 16,000 learners through early learning, literacy, numeracy, teacher development, and school nutrition programmes across Gauteng, the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
Over 3.1 million meals were served to learners, ensuring that children could learn with dignity and focus. Beyond the classroom, initiatives such as the Matric Live app and the SciMathUS university preparation programme help young people transition into higher education, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
These interventions reflect Sanlam’s understanding that education is not only about passing exams, but about opening doors to opportunity.
Building Financial Confidence
Financial knowledge is a powerful tool. Through its Consumer Financial Education (CFE) programmes, the Sanlam Foundation equips individuals — especially those in lower-income and rural communities — with practical skills to manage money, avoid over-indebtedness, and build resilience.
In 2024, more than 66,000 people benefited from Sanlam’s financial education initiatives through community workshops, workplaces, schools, and digital platforms. From budgeting and saving to understanding retirement systems, these programmes help people make informed decisions that strengthen households and communities.
Supporting Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses
Small businesses are the heartbeat of African economies. Sanlam recognises this and actively supports the growth of black- and women-owned enterprises through its Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programmes. Programmes such as Re Basadi, focused exclusively on women-owned SMEs, and Leruo, which supports stokvels to formalise and grow, provide mentorship, training, and access to opportunity.
In 2024, these initiatives helped onboard dozens of businesses, supported job creation, and strengthened the sustainability of enterprises at different stages of growth. Stories like Babalaz Sauce, a homegrown brand that grew into major retail partnerships through strategic support, demonstrate what is possible when talent meets opportunity.
These are not just business successes — they are community success stories.
Caring for Communities and the Environment
Sanlam’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond people to the environment they depend on. Through long-standing partnerships such as its collaboration with WWF South Africa, Sanlam supports the protection of freshwater resources and ecosystem restoration projects that also create jobs for local communities.
In 2024, these environmental initiatives contributed to job creation, SME participation, and the rehabilitation of thousands of hectares of land — showing that environmental care and economic development can go hand in hand.
Africa-Wide Impact
Sanlam’s impact is not limited to South Africa. Through its SanlamAllianz footprint, the Foundation supports programmes in countries such as
Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, and Botswana. Initiatives range from education and financial literacy to healthcare support for children with disabilities — ensuring that Sanlam’s purpose travels with its brand across the continent.
A Partner in Progress
Sanlam’s work shows what responsible corporate citizenship can look like when purpose, scale, and consistency come together. It is a reminder that businesses can be profitable while still being deeply human — investing in confidence, opportunity, and long-term prosperity.
At Eight Red Apples, we believe stories like these matter. They remind us that Africa’s future is not waiting to be discovered — it is already being built, every day, by organisations that choose to invest in people.
Sanlam is one of them.