Telkom's contribution to the United Nations SDGs

The following four SDGs and selected underlying targets present the most material opportunities for Telkom to enhance its positive impacts (SDG 4, SDG 8 and SDG 9) and decrease its negative impacts (SDG 12) in support of the SDGs. This table provides an overview of Telkom’s contribution to the SDGs, which are detailed further in the report, indicated with various cross-references. For Telkom’s approach to SDGs, refer to Reporting boundary and approval.

Quality education

Subtargets

Our contribution

Telkom KPI

4.1

By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.

We can materially impact this target through Telkom Foundation and its partnerships. There are dedicated programmes in place which focus on the development of young learners. We can use these existing platforms to increase our positive impact.

Social and relationship capital

Number of learners impacted
Number of teachers impacted
R'million invested in Telkom Foundation

4.4

By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

We have various internships, learnerships and other programmes to develop critical skills in the ICT sector.

Human capital

Number of learnerships and internships
R'million invested in training and development

Social and relationship capital

Number of graduates
Number of learners

Decent work and economic growth

Subtargets		Our contribution	Telkom KPI
8.2	Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors.	Our products and services predominantly enable technology, which is a key driver for economic growth. Through investing in our networks and infrastructure, we increase our positive impact on this target.	No KPI information reported on, relating to this SDG subtarget for FY2021.
8.3	Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalisation and growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.	Our ESD activities and investments hold opportunities to increase our positive impact on productive activities, entrepreneurship and growth of SMMEs as well as to support innovation.	Social and relationship capital Number of SMMEs impacted and/or supported Number of jobs created (direct and indirect) Number of entrepreneurs supported R'million invested in programmes R'million finance provided to SMEs B-BBEE procurement spend
8.5	By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.	Telkom’s positive impact regarding quality education (refer to SDG 4), skills development programmes, our remuneration policies, workforce breakdown and investment into ESD (refer to SDG 8.3) are material.	Human capital New employee hires (by gender) Employee voluntary turnover Employee diversity statistics Number of differently abled learners Remuneration report Remuneration and benefit disclosure
8.6	By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.	We directly employ a significant number of people FY2021: 12 039 (FY2020: 15 099) and support a greater number of indirect jobs by providing business to local organisations and through our ESD programmes.	Human capital New employee hires (by gender) Employee turnover (by gender) Employee diversity statistics Remuneration and benefit disclosure
8.10	Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all.	We provide network access to banks, ATMs and point of sale platforms. We also provide insurance and funeral cover through our mobile products. Through providing connectivity and infrastructure, Telkom offers the platform to enable other access to financial services.	No KPI information reported on, relating to this SDG subtarget for FY2021.

Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Subtargets		Our contribution	Telkom KPI
9.1	Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and trans-border infrastructure, to support economic development and human wellbeing, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.	We have a material/positive impact on this target through: Extending and upgrading infrastructure (in an environmentally sustainable way) Connecting remote, less-included communities Stimulating economic participation Supporting Internet of Things-related innovation Telkom can further increase its positive impact through the provision of affordable products and services, supporting equitable access to connectivity for all.	Productive capital Number of customers/subscribers R'million investment in infrastructure Network reliability indicators Network reach
9.3	Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets.	We contribute to this target through our ESD programmes (refer to SDG 8.3).We also provide a platform for technological advances to other industries through our products and services.	Social and relationship capital Number of SMMEs impacted and/or supported R'million finance provided to SMEs Productive capital Digital transformation as a KPI
9.4	By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries acting in accordance with their respective capabilities.	We increase our positive impact by leveraging Gyro and its infrastructure upgrades to increase resourceuse efficiency and adopt clean and environmentally sound technologies. This includes the solar photovoltaic plants expansion (2020: solar photovoltaic plant at Telkom Park). Moving from copper to fibre cables further increases the use of more environmentally friendly technologies and products.	Natural capital Energy efficiency Carbon footprint Water consumption Electricity usage from renewable resources Productive capital FTTH
9.5	Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.	We have a material opportunity to increase our positive impact on research and innovation in the ICT space through partnerships and utilising our current platforms, for example, the Openserve CoE.	Human capital Number of research and development learners

Responsible consumption and production

Subtargets		Our contribution	Telkom KPI
12.5	By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.	Our business activities, products and services lead to high volumes of e-waste, i.e. batteries, copper cabling, phones, electronic equipment, etc. There are significant opportunities for Telkom to decrease its negative impact through, among others, the recycling of end-of-life products.	Natural capital Volumes of e-waste disposed
12.7	Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.	We can materially impact this target with our procurement practices and terms and conditions.	No KPI information reported on, relating to this SDG subtarget for FY2021.