Reshaping employees’ lives

With household finances under pressure and youth unemployment still high, access to education and stable housing remains out of reach for many working South Africans. Against this backdrop, employer-funded trusts are playing a growing role in bridging these gaps, offering targeted support that can shift long-term outcomes for employees and their families.

One such example is the KAL Group Trust. Established by KAL Group, a JSE-listed diversified agri-lifestyle and fuel retail group, the Trust is an employee benefit platform that reinvests a portion of the Group’s success directly into the lives of its employees and their dependants.

Formed in 2011, the Trust is funded through employee ownership in KAL Group and its income is derived from dividends declared by the business. These funds are used to provide financial assistance in three key areas to permanent employees: education, housing, and sport & cultural development. Since inception, the Trust has supported nearly 2 000 beneficiaries, with more than R20 million allocated to employees and their families.

The Trust provides financial assistance in the form of grants, interest‑free loans, or a combination of both. Applications are assessed by the Trust’s board of trustees, which includes employer and employee-appointed members, as well as independent representation, and is structured to ensure an appropriate mix of skills and expertise. Funds are paid directly to approved institutions or suppliers to ensure transparency and accountability.

Education as a catalyst for future opportunity

“Education remains central to the Trust’s mission because it builds the skills pipeline that supports the communities we serve,” says Sulaiman‑Bray.

Education support remains the largest focus area, covering costs from early childhood development through to tertiary studies, as well as associated expenses such as accommodation, textbooks, equipment and transport. Housing support includes interest‑free loans, rental deposits, transfer fees and home improvements, including essential infrastructure such as water access. Funding is also available for dependants excelling in sport or cultural activities at provincial or national level.

During the 2025 financial year alone, the Trust provided R6.9 million in support to 428 qualifying employees whilst education funding of R12.7 million and housing support of R8 million has been made available since inception.

Robertson dad sees his kids thrive through education support

Geoffry Hendriks, a Trade Clerk at Agrimark Robertson, knows first‑hand how the Trust can transform generational prospects. With two children pursuing higher education at the same time, the financial pressure on his family was immense.

Through the KAL Trust, Geoffry received support towards the education of both his son, Breyton, and daughter, Madilynn. Breyton graduated as a qualified medical doctor in 2024 after completing his medical studies, while Madilynn is currently studying Theology at Stellenbosch University and has achieved multiple distinctions.

“There was a year when the Trust paid both my children’s tuition fees in full,” Hendriks says. “That relief meant we could focus on other study needs. When Breyton graduated, the pride our family and community felt was overwhelming. The Trust made that possible.”

The family is now preparing to celebrate Madilynn’s future graduation, with continued support from the Trust.

Access to water restores dignity in Bergville

In Bergville, KwaZulu‑Natal, the Trust’s home loan programme has delivered a different, but equally profound, form of impact.

Thembinkosi Butelezi, a Retail Clerk at Agrimark Bergville, lives in an area where municipal water supply is unreliable and often unavailable for months at a time. Daily life required waking before dawn to queue at distant water points, just to secure enough water for basic household needs.

Through the Trust’s interest‑free home loan offering, Butelezi was able to install a borehole at his home in October 2025.

“Water is essential for everything in life,” he says. “When the borehole was completed, it changed everything. My family has water every day, and I can even share with neighbours. It restored dignity and brought peace back into our home.”

With reliable water now in place, Butelezi is continuing to improve his home and supports his community by sharing water and produce from his garden.

Building opportunity, one family at a time

According to Sulaiman‑Bray, stories like these illustrate the Trust’s wider purpose.

“The success of beneficiaries illustrates how strategic investment in education unlocks potential that is carried forward into families, workplaces and society,” says Sulaiman‑Bray. “By supporting education and essential home improvements, we help our people build stability, resilience and hope for the future. That is how we grow together.”