TotalEnergies continues to strengthen its commitment to creating a positive impact in local communities across South Africa through social and environmental initiatives. In 2025 alone, these projects benefited over 44,000 people.
Support through social initiatives
The company implements its social and environmental projects in partnership with schools, non-profit organizations, and community-focused groups. These projects aim to address needs identified at the local level and cover four key areas of TotalEnergies' activities: Inclusion and education; Safety; Climate, coasts, and oceans; and Cultural dialogue and heritage.
Education and youth development
TotalEnergies promotes youth development and access to education through collaboration with various organizations. For instance, under programs implemented jointly with Afrika Tikkun’s Ignite Programme and LEAP Schools, over 1,000 students received academic mentorship, career guidance, and mentoring, contributing to a 94% exam pass rate.
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On the West Coast, in partnership with the Read to Rise association, the company donated nearly 6,000 books to students in 160 classrooms and helped renovate the Harkams High School dormitory, improving living and learning conditions for 200 students. Furthermore, to support small fishing enterprises, the company provided long-term business training to fishing cooperatives in 15 towns.
Prioritizing safety in communities
Safety is one of TotalEnergies' fundamental values. Therefore, a key focus is raising awareness and supporting safer mobility in vulnerable areas. In 2019, the company launched the international 'VIA Safe Mobility' program to raise youth awareness about road safety, train students as safe mobility ambassadors, and improve safety around educational institutions.
This program, operating in 44 countries, has already reached one million young people, more than 35,000 of whom are in South Africa. Olagoke Aluko, Chairman of TotalEnergies in South Africa, emphasized that any measure to improve road safety helps protect young lives, as traffic accidents remain a leading cause of death. He added that their work is far from complete and continued collaboration with partners is necessary.
On the West Coast, the company also conducted marine safety projects, providing certified first aid and survival training, as well as protective gear to ensure safer working conditions and increase the resilience of fishing operations.
Corporate environmental responsibility
As part of its third pillar, dedicated to 'Climate, coasts, and oceans,' TotalEnergies' commitment is demonstrated through national initiatives. Among these is Tree Month, during which the company planted 16,000 trees, and the 'Walk and Learn on the Wildside' program, which introduces students to nature conservation issues and raises awareness about career opportunities in tourism.
Coastal clean-up campaigns are also conducted in partnership with Save a Fishie, which recently collected 7.5 tons of waste in 50 towns along the West Coast while raising awareness about pollution. Concurrently, to promote knowledge accumulation, TotalEnergies sponsors cetacean monitoring and biodiversity research conducted by the University of Pretoria's Cetacean Department for the eighth consecutive year.
Supporting culture and heritage
Finally, TotalEnergies supports art and culture by creating opportunities for self-expression, inclusion, and social cohesion through various projects. The company has established long-standing partnerships with organizations such as Buskaid and Sibikwa Arts Academy, which provide quality artistic education for youth and offer platforms to showcase their talents. The company also sponsors events like Fête de la Musique, which promote cultural exchange and community engagement.
Recently, TotalEnergies funded a community storytelling initiative called The Story of Us, implemented by Descendent Media in 10 towns along the West Coast. This project trained 100 young people in interacting with elders, documenting, preserving, and sharing their local history and cultural traditions, which are often absent from textbooks.
A community-based approach
Underpinning each of these initiatives is one method—a bottom-up approach where the communities themselves determine priorities and shape projects. The common driving force is building sustainable local partnerships that bring long-term value through practical interventions. Participants benefit beyond the scope of the projects themselves. One graduate of the West Coast entrepreneurship program noted that the initiative changed his approach to business, as he now better understands his business and possesses practical skills he can apply daily.
The school director who benefited from the dormitory renovation also noted a significant improvement in student performance. Magali Pillay, Managing Director of TotalEnergies E&P and Renewables South Africa, stated: 'These programs reflect our commitment to working with communities in a meaningful and practical way. By supporting skills development, improving safety, and investing in environmental initiatives, we contribute to strengthening the local economy and enhancing community resilience.' As TotalEnergies' activities develop in South Africa, the number of public initiatives is expected to grow, opening up new opportunities for expanding partnerships and scaling impact in support of sustainable and locally managed development.
