CAG supports Kingsley Holgate’s Outside Edge Expedition and One Net One Life anti-malaria initiative, which aims to reach one million Africans

CAG has thrown its weight behind Kingsley Holgate’s Outside Edge expedition, which kicked off in Cape Town on Saturday, 28 April 2007. The expedition, which will see adventurer, Kingsley Holgate, circumnavigate the outer edge of the African continent, includes a strong anti-malarial focus with Holgate and his team aiming to reach a million people with treated mosquito nets and educational information on the disease. In addition, the expedition will run a literacy and ’Right-to-Sight’ campaign.

Holgate is a living legend in Africa and embodies the adventurous spirit of our company and our people. At CAG we see ourselves as entrepreneurial and economic adventurers and identify wholeheartedly with Kingsley and his team and their objectives. He is optimistic about our continent, as we are, and firmly believes that an individual can make a positive difference in the lives of many.”

CAG is supporting the Outside Edge Campaign in three ways:

• First, through a contribution of US$50,000 towards the expedition and, in particular, towards the funding of the anti-malaria initiative;
• Second, by involving our employees and their communities in anti-malarial campaigns when the Outside Edge expedition reaches Mali and Ghana. Holgate is scheduled to reach West Africa in the third quarter of this year and CAG plans to host open days at its properties in both countries to hand out nets and hold education sessions. Holgate will attend these functions and speak to the communities about his fight against malaria and his adventures thus far; and
• Third, by inviting our stakeholders – employees, shareholders, advisors and others – to support the campaign. We will be publicising the campaign and making it possible for contributions – big and small – to reach the largely rural communities that bear the brunt of this avoidable disease.

Malaria is a serious problem in the countries in which we operate leading to lost man hours and decreased productivity as impacting on the community as a whole, A proactive approach is therefore required. CAG’s support for this initiative forms part of CAG’s ongoing commitment to making a difference in the communities in which it operates. CAG’s own anti-malaria initiative was launched in May 2006 when more than 5,000 treated nets were given to pregnant women and children in the Bamako district in Mali.