Siphesihle Buthelezi|Published2 hours agoVivian Reddy pledges R100m to transform KZN’s care economy: From welfare to development

Businessman Vivian Reddy had made R100 million pledge towards KwaZulu-Natal’s care economy. Billionaire philanthropist and chairman of the Vivian Reddy Foundation, Vivian Reddy, has laid down a R100 million gauntlet to the South African private sector, calling for a shift from “limited” charity to strategic government partnerships. The R100 million pledge, structured over four years, was announced at the 2026 Partnership Summit at the Coastlands uMhlanga Hotel this week.

Speaking on behalf of his foundation and the Sibaya Community Trust, Reddy made it clear that the investment is a direct response to the province’s mounting socio-economic pressures. Reddy did not mince his words when addressing his peers in the business community, urging them to rethink how they approach social responsibility. “My message to fellow business leaders across South Africa is simple: we need to move beyond traditional corporate social responsibility toward strategic partnerships that deliver long-term social impact,” Reddy said.

He argued that while standard CSR programmes are often valuable, they remain “limited in scale” and fail to address systemic issues. “By working directly with government departments, structured trusts, and credible civil society organisations, business can help unlock larger, coordinated investments in social infrastructure and human development,” he added. The funding is specifically earmarked for the “Care Economy,” a sector Reddy identifies as a massive untapped engine for job creation.

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Initial programmes will focus on skills development for caregivers, community health workers, and early childhood development practitioners. “These are sectors where the demand for services is growing and where meaningful job opportunities can be created relatively quickly,” Reddy explained. While the funding will be spread across priority districts in KwaZulu-Natal where unemployment remains high, Reddy emphasised that strict oversight would be maintained through the Sibaya Community Trust.

This includes transparent allocation of funds and “measurable outcomes linked to training, employment opportunities, and community impact.” The pledge arrives as KwaZulu-Natal grapples with a youth unemployment rate currently exceeding 45%. Opening the summit, KZN Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga painted a sobering picture of the province’s reliance on the state.

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