Given the global mask shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic, Polo South Africa has pledged 250,000 cotton fabric masks for the City of Cape Town to distribute to citizens across the country. While many South Africans are working from home, some are still going to work and use public transport. Citizens who are part of essential services are more challenged with adhering to the physical distancing.
Polo assigned a task team at its shirt factory in Atlantis to manufacture the ‘commuter face masks’, made up of cotton fabric which is washable and reusable. The masks are currently distributed for free through the City of Cape Town to vulnerable residents at clinics and public transport areas.
According to Zahid Badroodien, Health Counselor at City of Cape Town “We have distributed the first 10,000 masks so far and thanks to Polo South Africa for providing this much-needed resource”. The shirt factory will continue production until the pledge has been met and the masks have been delivered areas across the country that are most in need.
“As President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his initial address, our country’s ‘Thuma Mina’ moment is upon us as never before. As a fashion brand, this is our small way of helping our nation’s commuters and to stand alongside the health services who are hard at work at the front lines,” said Mark Oliver, Managing Director at Polo.
