Three Soweto women transformed a rubbish dump into a thriving vegetable garden the size of a soccer field.

The much anticipated and recently-released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report presented a concerning summary of the current and future state of the climate. The IPCC report will inform world leaders as they gather in Glasgow for COP26 in November to craft a plan to mitigate and adapt to a changing climate in a fair and equitable manner.

The Shoprite Group aims to power 25% of its operations with renewable energy over the next five years and has added 22 new solar PV (photovoltaic) sites between February and September 2021, more than doubling its solar capacity.

Thabiso Hlongwane (28) launched the first Packa-Ching pop-up buy-back centre, housed in a revamped shipping container, at the Mall of Thembisa last week.

The Shoprite Group is the first retailer to recycle wipes from its 1 328 supermarkets nationwide. The wipes, which are green to identify them as 100% recyclable polypropylene, are used to sanitise baskets and trolleys and are sent for recycling after use. The bucket container and all stickers on the bucket are also 100% polypropylene and recyclable.

With a heart for vulnerable children in her community, Joyce Morudi started the NOSA early learning and orphans and vulnerable children's centre in Winterveld, northern Gauteng, more than 25 years ago.

The Kanana Poultry Farm Primary Cooperative in Nietgedacht, Gauteng, was born out of the need to generate an income for the co-op members and produce food for their families. Shoprite, recognising the role that farming cooperatives play in helping to improve food security at a community level, partnered with the co-op late last year.

The Shoprite Group has launched an internationally-endorsed Master Meat Artisan Programme for its qualifying butchery managers, and will train its initial intake of 52 people to join the exclusive global club of Master Butchers.

Usave made a much-needed donation to the Ubuntu Soup Kitchen in Aberdeen to support their work in serving the communities of Aberdeen, Lotusville and Thembalisizwe. The donation included essential equipment including a fridge, freezer, gas stove and cooking utensils. Usave also donated essential food items, blankets for the elderly, hand sanitizer as well as gardening aprons & hats. Usave recently also donated seedlings and gardening equipment to support Ubuntu in establishing a food garden, which will provide the kitchen with fresh vegetables for their feeding scheme.

People wishing to help communities affected by unrest can donate to the Shoprite Act For Change Fund in any Shoprite, Checkers or Usave nationally. The funds, which will be boosted by the Shoprite Group’s own R1 million initial donation, will be used by vetted organisations involved in relief efforts to help communities rebuild after the devastating effects of the unrest, vandalism and arson on many community members and their businesses.