This year, Nedbank is celebrating people who are doing exceptional work to uplift communities in the fields of the arts, the environment, sport, and child well-being. Nedbank is redefining who it looks up to as a society and crowning the new nobles – those that view themselves as noble – no longer by rank or title but as a virtue, thus redefining their role in society.
If you have an affinity to doing good for your community and using what you have to uplift those around you, you are part of this years’ ‘New Nobility’ – just like the exceptional individuals from the Nedbank Affinity Programme.
Nedbank is crowning a ‘New Nobility’ that consists of people like Simanga Matholeni from The Sports Trust and David Mollik from Soshanguve South Secondary School who have both dedicated their time to uplifting and enhancing their communities through sport.
With over 20-years’ teaching experience, David is passionate about supporting his learners both academically and on the sports field, making him a prime example of what it means to be part of the ‘New Nobility’. Since receiving a world-class multipurpose sports court from Nedbank, he has been given the opportunity to invest in the development of athletes from Soshanguve and surrounding communities.
Since 2013, Simanga has dedicated his time to uplifting his community through the construction of multipurpose sports courts and upgraded facilities with the sole purpose of bringing positive change to the South African youth through sports and by providing world-class sporting facilities to previously disadvantaged communities.
The Nedbank International Polo event is about more than providing an unparalleled experience. It is also about creating a shared understanding of what it means to be a part of the new nobility, which is about playing your part to uplift those around you. Gcebile Dlamini and Nkosinathi Nzima from The Arts & Culture Trust have both used their influence in society and love for the arts to contribute to the lives of individuals living in marginalised and underprivileged communities.
Everyone can all learn from entrepreneur and founder of Chilli the Bite, Donald Mkhwanazi, from the Children’s Affinity, who uses his small business to teach skills and uplift his community. Chilli the Bite employs younger members of the community to assist with the distribution of Mkhwanazi’s product in Tembisa and surrounding areas.
Another perfect example of what the ‘New Nobility’ is all about is award-winning conservationist, Samir Randera-Rees, who has dedicated his life to water conservation and protecting the environment through the WWF Nedbank Green Trust. Together with WWF South Africa and the Nedbank WWF Green Trust, he has assisted in making water source areas one of the country’s highest conservation priorities and mobilised over R10 million in strategic water source areas towards empowering communal farmers, clearing thirsty alien trees, building youth capacity in the green economy, and starting green businesses.
Through their initiatives and dedication, each Nedbank Affinity beneficiary captures the essence of ‘New Nobility’ by spreading good and uplifting those around them. Join Nedbank in redefining what it means to be a new noble. Join the #NewNobility movement at the 2023 Nedbank International Polo and use your influence to empower those around you.
