Sun International unites for Mandela Day magic

Remembering the late Nelson Mandela by honouring his legacy as a humanitarian through acts of charity is what Mandela Day on 18 July is all about. For Sun International, the day is also about bringing staff together to give back to the communities in which they operate.

This year marked the 10^th anniversary of Madiba’s passing in December 2013. To commemorate this, the Nelson Mandela Foundation put out a 10-year remembrance call to action: “The Legacy Lives on Through You”.

Sun International properties around the country demonstrated their ongoing contribution to socio-economic development, which forms an integral part of the hospitality company’s business strategy, with various Mandela Day initiatives.

Sun City spreads sunshine

Sun City Resort continued its charitable works in the North West. NGOs in the Moses Kotane and Rustenburg municipalities received donations of food, blankets, and furniture.

Tsoga Re Thuse, Traditional HIV/AIDS Home Based Care and Itekeng Home Based Care, Dimakatso Safe House, and Thari Mmelegi were previously adopted by Sun City as special Mandela Day beneficiaries.

“In addition, we donated net shading for the taxi rank and ran a cleaning campaign in and around Sun Village,” said Tebogo Mokgejane, Sun City’s Social Economic Development and Stakeholder Engagement Manager.

“As we do these good deeds, we honour and celebrate Nelson Mandela's life and legacy, while helping to fight poverty and inequality by acting to improve people’s quality of life. The resort is pleased to join hands with staff in making a difference in our communities.”

Flamingo makes food donations

Flamingo kicked off its internal TIN Spin project in May and asked staff to donate non-perishable food and nominate organisations for the donations. NGOs Woman to Woman and Destiny House were chosen to receive goods, alongside three deserving needy households.

Employees were grouped into nine teams competing to donate the most food.

A total of 794 items, and another 488 items from the Responsible Gambling Foundation Gauteng – from pilchards to tuna, mayonnaise to soup, baked beans to tea bags – were handed over on Tuesday to the selected charities.

Boardwalk brings people together

Bringing staff and suppliers together as one, Nelson Mandela Bay’s Playground hosted a Mandela Day food-packing event. The 250 parcels will be donated to impoverished communities of Nelson Mandela Bay. Boardwalk service providers contributed to a successful event last year and joined once again to be part of this worthy cause.

The Table Bay ladles love

Staff from the five-star Cape Town hotel joined Ladles of Love’s Mandela Day initiative, packing meals at the V&A Waterfront.

Time Square brings cheer

Time Square hotel in Pretoria brought some cheer to 40 retired members of the community living at Tumelo Home and Hospice Centre in Mabopane on Mandela Day. Staff from the Sun International property first completed a deep clean the day before donating used, yet pristine linen and hosted a full breakfast for the centre on Mandela Day. A potjiekos lunch was also served.

“These elderly members of our community are often forgotten, especially if they have no family of their own to care for them in their later years, and Time Square is pleased to be able to assist where we can,” said General Manager Ruben Gooranah.

Time Square has an existing relationship with the centre, and completed some maintenance and upkeep work last year.

GrandWest packs over 140 000 meals

Some 810 adults and children converged at the Grand Arena, GrandWest, to devote 67 minutes of their time in honour of Nelson Mandela.

The adult volunteers, who included staff from NPO Rise Against Hunger, GrandWest, and other businesses, worked alongside 85 learners from Valhalla, Elswood, Bellville South, and AZ Berman High Schools. The Grand Arena was transformed into a streamlined packing facility with 15 production lines staffed by teams of volunteers, each working for 67 minutes before being replaced by the next team. Over five hours, the group packed 140 616 individual meals to feed schoolchildren.

GrandWest paid the fee for schools and staff to participate and waivered the cost of hiring the Grand Arena. The money raised from fees was used to buy the dry ingredients and cover the basic cost of the packaging.

Golden Valley goes for gold

The Worcester hotel and casino made youngsters in the area love every moment of Mandela Day, with staff donating an entire day to brighten up the children’s lives.

The Sun International property visited Little Rascal crèche to deliver educational gifts for the children. The team painted a playhouse and a section of wall at the school, and have plans to paint the Esselenpark Dagsorgsentrum.

Sibaya goes back to school

Chefs from Sibaya in Durban prepared hot meals and together with more than 50 employees, went to Sibonginhlanhla Primary School in nearby Waterloo to serve the more than 800 learners, to fill their bellies and enable them to focus on their schoolwork.

“As the Sibaya family, our motto for the day was caring and sharing. It was truly a humbling experience as we engaged with the learners,” said Karen Hammond, Sibaya’s Human Resources Manager. Sibaya previously donated books and a mini-library to learners for World Literacy Day.

Sibonginhlanhla Principal Sithole said: “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our generous sponsor for joining us on Mandela Day. Your support in dedicating 67 minutes to feeding our learners is a shining example of compassion and making a lasting impact.”

The Maslow helps feed hungry Sowetans

The Maslow Sandton team played their part on Mandela Day, preparing sandwiches for the Young Men Foundation to feed more than 130 children at the Ithuba Centre in Mzimhlophe, Soweto.

The foundation provides father figures, brothers and male role models to boys in the greater Soweto community.

Meropa creates winter-warmer wonder

The Rotary Club of Polokwane’s Blanket Drive received a boost from Meropa Casino, with 259 blankets worth R25 000 donated to Grateful Hearts Disability Centre, Ebenezer Methodist Church, QFPG Interdenominational Prayer Group, CAAF Small Charities for Bigger Impact, Lutheran Church Seshego Community, Child Welfare Polokwane, and Sister Nellah Bambo.

Windmill rises against hunger

The Bloemfontein property joined the global movement by dedicating the month of July to public service. They teamed up with Rise Against Hunger and packed 82 boxes of meals to feed hungry families in the community.

General Manager Johan Oosthuizen and staff visited Lereko Secondary School, Ipopeng Day Care and Rowana Swarts Foundation to hand over meal packs and winter warmer goodies.

Wild Coast transforms home for disabled

Ikhaya le Mbizana Home for the Disabled and Day Care Centre in Bizana was refurbished by Wild Coast Sun and other organisations and volunteers. This included painting the interior and exterior of the centre. Nappies, pots, linen-savers, and linen were donated to the home by various organisations.

The home looks after 24 people living with disabilities aged between 16 and 30.