Infotech has been involved in community projects since 1980 via one of its key shareholders, the Mergon Foundation, which at 27%, is the largest single shareholder in Infotech.

The Mergon Foundation is an independent community beneficial organisation supporting a wide range of community relief and development projects, mainly in South Africa.

The Foundation has a Christian orientation and stands in support of a specific business philosophy. It is believed that the propensity of the capitalist approach to disproportionately favour the few, places a moral obligation on the members of the business community to hoard less and share more. Progress towards a more equitable dispensation may well prove fundamental toward neutralizing the potential advent of capricious political alternatives and even the preservation of national and global economic freedom.

The Mergon Foundation’s approach is to support the underprivileged through specialised organisations dedicated to education, job creation and skills development, social upliftment, food and health programs and charity work. Currently over 50 such organisations are supported on a monthly basis. The initiatives are wide ranging and include inner city feeding programs, education and care for children who are HIV positive, computer literacy and life skills programs, home based care programs for the aged and low cost housing projects for people earning less than R3,500 per month.

The majority of the funds distributed through these initiatives are aimed at positively impacting the lives of historically disadvantaged individuals.

In the financial year ending 30 June 2007, financial contributions made by the Mergon Foundation were in excess of R5m. This amount is planned to increase to R15m for the next financial year.

These distributions are generally funded either through dividends received or from the proceeds of the disposal of investments held by the Mergon Foundation.

Aside from its investment in Infotech, the Mergon Foundation also holds interests in property, the most significant being its 31% shareholding in the Attacq Property Fund.

In terms of ownership, the Mergon Foundation is a formally recognized Public Benefit Organisation of which the beneficiaries (and therefore ownership) is the South African community. Infotech is therefore 27% owned by the South African Community.

Mr Nelson Mandela pictured at his Houghton Residence in June 2000 with the founder of Infotech and various board members and trustees.

Founding trustees of the Infotech Foundation (1994).

Infotech regularly gets involved in community improvement initiatives. This financial year, Infotech was involved with assisting the Sun Sparrows Creche in Sunnyside, Pretoria, with laying the playground lawn, painting of one of the buildings and painting decorative murals for the children.