Latest news with #AddHope
The Citizen
01-08-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
KFC drops sponsorship of non-profit MES amid corruption allegations
KFC said its action signals a loss of confidence in MES's leadership More than 3 000 children face hunger and more than 100 jobs hang in the balance after KFC Add Hope's abrupt termination of its 14-year partnership with Mould Empower Serve (MES), a prominent nonprofit running homeless shelters and feeding schemes across Gauteng. The fast food giant's move comes in the wake of mounting allegations of corruption, racial bias and financial mismanagement at the embattled NGO. KFC's Add Hope funding pulled KFC confirmed that its decision was prompted by 'allegations of corrupt activity' at MES. Our Add Hope beneficiary organisations are consistently vetted to ensure confidence in their ability to manage funds. This includes ensuring that our partners meet strict credibility criteria, have a proven track record and behave in accordance with our exemplary standards,' Head of Corporate Affairs at KFC Africa, Andra Nel told The Citizen. 'When we become aware of allegations that might fall short of, or not meet our standards, it immediately triggers a reassessment of the beneficiary partnership.' The company also noted that more than R1 million in Add Hope donations had been spent before the termination, prompting a demand for a full report on how the funds were used. 'All of our beneficiary organisations have regular reporting deadlines where detailed accounting has to be shared of how funds are utilised. Should we find that there is any indication of funding not spent as intended, we reserve our right to take action.' ALSO READ: UPDATE: MES says CEO 'absolved' after claims of BEE violations and financial misconduct While KFC said it has not yet identified specific irregularities in the reporting lines, its action signals a loss of confidence in MES's leadership. MES did not respond to The Citizen's question about KFC's withdrawal. Whistleblowers allege widespread misconduct The termination of KFC's partnership comes after an anonymous group of MES staff, in a detailed statement, claimed the organisation has been hollowed out by corruption and cronyism. At the centre of the scandal is suspended CEO Leona Pienaar, who allegedly hired friends and relatives to senior posts despite their lack of qualifications, ignored internal governance rules, and was protected by board members accused of racial favouritism and nepotism. 'The cover-up unleashed a devastating chain of events,' the statement reads. 'Donor trust was eroded by MES's refusal to be transparent, not by those who exposed the truth.' According to the whistleblowers, Pienaar once fired a staffer for taking 'two extra pieces of chicken' from a feeding scheme – but was herself cleared of most charges despite strong evidence in a forensic report recommending disciplinary action. MES denies wrongdoing, blames 'smear campaign' In a media statement issued on Thursday, the MES board hit back at the allegations, describing them as 'unfounded, spurious and defamatory'. The board accused a small group of 'disgruntled ex-employees' of orchestrating a smear campaign to damage MES's reputation. The board said it had commissioned an independent investigation and found 'no gross or general governance irregularities' and 'no evidence of racism, dishonesty, financial misconduct, or corruption'. It acknowledged the need for 'governance realignment' but insisted the core allegations were either false or materially misleading. Despite this, MES has refused to release the full forensic report, citing legal privilege. The Department of Social Development – which funds over half of MES's operations – has also requested the report. Its future support now appears uncertain. Food insecurity, retrenchments loom According to the statement by anonymous staff members, KFC's withdrawal and the collapse of key programmes have seen shelters like Impilo in Jeppestown, Ekhaya in the CBD and another in Kempton Park running short on food. It is also alleged that MES staff received only half their salaries for two months. Whistleblowers claim MES may owe Sars, UIF, and pension contributions, placing employees at serious financial risk. More than 110 jobs, mostly held by Black South Africans, are under threat. Some staff allege targeted restructuring efforts are being used to intimidate whistleblowers, while unqualified allies of Pienaar remain in senior roles. 'The organisation is no longer a haven of service. It has become a workplace ruled by fear and silence,' said one staff member.
SowetanLIVE
24-07-2025
- Business
- SowetanLIVE
Identify a new KFC site and earn a R60k finder's fee
SA has one KFC outlet for every 58,000 people, but demand for finger lickin' good fried chicken still outstrips supply. That's why the brand is asking all South Africans to help it identify new potential sites to open even more locations. In return, until the end of 2025 it is offering a finder's fee of R60,000 for site recommendations that lead to a successfully opened restaurant or drive-through. KFC is the one of the fastest-growing quick service restaurant (QSR) brands in SA, Africa and the world. Globally, it has more than 30,000 restaurants in over 150 countries, employing nearly a million people. Its 1,500 restaurants in 22 African markets employ more than 40,000 people from SA in the south to Senegal in the west and Mauritius in the east. It has close to 1,200 outlets in SA alone. KFC Africa's GM Akhona Qengqe says the brand's transformative impact as a growth igniter has had a profound impact on the communities where it operates, improving local infrastructure, boosting the economy and creating employment. 'We create sustainable wealth and employment across Africa,' she says. 'Each restaurant creates an average of 35 direct jobs, provides a modern hub for communities to connect, and delivers high-quality meals made with the best ingredients.' Qengqe says KFC Africa is also a respected leader in social impact, women empowerment and incubating talent. 'We make an indelible mark in the fight against child hunger through our Add Hope initiative; our focus on equity and inclusion means 60% of our team members are women; and the unparalleled opportunities we offer staff for education and career progression have created a robust and globally sought-after talent pool.' Growth and innovation SA's QSR sector leads the world in terms of growth and innovation. It was valued at $2.7bn in 2018 and is projected to reach $4.9bn (about R87bn) by 2026, driven by urbanisation and growing demand. KFC's track record of growth means it leads the industry in new builds and has the most sustainable footprint, with the fewest restaurant closures across all markets. Every new restaurant is built to KFC's Building Green global standards, with 11 'must-haves' to create a healthy and environmentally friendly environment. KFC is constantly exploring how to push the boundaries to reduce energy and water consumption in each restaurant, and is well on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030. All KFC packaging is made from certified sustainable sources and is fully recyclable.
TimesLIVE
24-07-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Identify a new KFC site and earn a R60k finder's fee
SA has one KFC outlet for every 58,000 people, but demand for finger lickin' good fried chicken still outstrips supply. That's why the brand is asking all South Africans to help it identify new potential sites to open even more locations. In return, until the end of 2025 it is offering a finder's fee of R60,000 for site recommendations that lead to a successfully opened restaurant or drive-through. KFC is the one of the fastest-growing quick service restaurant (QSR) brands in SA, Africa and the world. Globally, it has more than 30,000 restaurants in over 150 countries, employing nearly a million people. Its 1,500 restaurants in 22 African markets employ more than 40,000 people from SA in the south to Senegal in the west and Mauritius in the east. It has close to 1,200 outlets in SA alone. KFC Africa's GM Akhona Qengqe says the brand's transformative impact as a growth igniter has had a profound impact on the communities where it operates, improving local infrastructure, boosting the economy and creating employment. 'We create sustainable wealth and employment across Africa,' she says. 'Each restaurant creates an average of 35 direct jobs, provides a modern hub for communities to connect, and delivers high-quality meals made with the best ingredients.' Qengqe says KFC Africa is also a respected leader in social impact, women empowerment and incubating talent. 'We make an indelible mark in the fight against child hunger through our Add Hope initiative; our focus on equity and inclusion means 60% of our team members are women; and the unparalleled opportunities we offer staff for education and career progression have created a robust and globally sought-after talent pool.' Growth and innovation SA's QSR sector leads the world in terms of growth and innovation. It was valued at $2.7bn in 2018 and is projected to reach $4.9bn (about R87bn) by 2026, driven by urbanisation and growing demand. KFC's track record of growth means it leads the industry in new builds and has the most sustainable footprint, with the fewest restaurant closures across all markets. Every new restaurant is built to KFC's Building Green global standards, with 11 'must-haves' to create a healthy and environmentally friendly environment. KFC is constantly exploring how to push the boundaries to reduce energy and water consumption in each restaurant, and is well on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030. All KFC packaging is made from certified sustainable sources and is fully recyclable.
Associated Press
03-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Serving Up Hope: How Yum! and KFC South Africa Are Tackling World Hunger One Meal at a Time
LinkedIn May 28 was World Hunger Day, an observance supporting efforts to address food insecurity around the world. Feeding communities is foundational to the way Yum! Serves Up Good everyday – as a matter of fact, Yum! has donated more than 215 million pounds of food to those in need since 1992 through efforts such as Harvest. KFC South Africa's Add Hope program is one example of how our brands and markets are making an impact in their communities. Statistically, one in four South African children experience severe food poverty, placing them at risk of life-threatening malnutrition. KFC's goal is to help feed these children so that they may have the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Since launching 16 years ago, the Add Hope program has provided meals for 1.2 million children in South Africa, collecting over $66 million through guest donations and sales, averaging more than 133,000 meals served daily to children in need. Read more about how this team is tackling world hunger, one guest check at a time. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Yum! Brands
