Masana Managing Director Morena Sithole says the company is “truly celebrating” the handover of facilities that will make a difference to two communities on Thursday 1 November and Friday 2 November 2018. “It is a celebration of our company culture, which requires us to assist in fulfilling the needs of the communities that we operate in.”
Thursday will see a full day for Masana staff and local communities in the Municipality of Blouberg, where the villages of Machaba, Pax and Grootpan will formally take ownership of the upgrades that were once just needs on a wish-list.
On Friday, the Ratau Day Care Centre at Kromhoek will be Masana’s next recipient, in company initiatives that total R2.5-million.
“When we see a wish list that requests toilets, or a fence to keep children safe in their school, we know that we have a responsibility to these communities that goes far beyond Corporate Social Responsibility,” says Sithole.
“We are invested in the humanity of each region Masana works in, so we see this as an extension of our own culture of giving and ensuring suppliers in the area are engaged in the supply chain, ensuring our money goes to the community in more ways than one.”
Under the auspices of the House of Hope Youth Development Centre, the Ratau Day Care Centre has been supplied with a functional container office, building works, secure fencing, a borehole and a playground created by Masa Sunrise Construction.
“School uniforms from local supplier Dithebele ME Clothing as well as a desktop computer, several laptops and a printer from Pheregong Transport & Services CC are also part of the Masana contribution,” says Sithole, “in line with our efforts to improve early education while giving teachers opportunities to embrace technology as part of their teaching skills.”
The Mashilo Crèche and Pre-School will be home to new mattresses, blankets, pots for cooking and a television set. In addition, stationaries such as pens, pencils, drawing books and a variety of items for budding young artists were given to the crèche to enable the children to be creative while improving their fine motor skills by drawing and colouring in pictures.
The Machada Drop In Centre will receive their kitchenware, including a freezer and cooking utensils; Manenzhe Community Centre receives much-needed feminine hygiene products for local girls and women; and Mangwato Primary School has a safe and fit-for-purpose roof, thanks to the local supplier Telegenix.
Says Sithole: “The structures we commissioned were manufactured according to the national building standards and regulations and Masana had a second sign-off from an independent structural engineer to ensure compliance. The items donated to various schools were highlighted as much-needed by the staff, and Masana answered the call with empathy.”
As a majority black-owned and managed petroleum products and solutions company in South Africa, Masana Petroleum Solutions is a symbol of transformation and growth in the fuel industry and the broader economy.
“The handovers will take place with Chief Makgato and Mayoral Council representatives,” Sithole says, adding that Masana’s involvement in all communities starts with community leaders, who understand how their regions function and bear much responsibility for the wellbeing of their constituents.
“Many of our initiatives focus on the vulnerable in our society which includes educational facilities for children, skills development centres and hospitals. Masana personnel are profoundly aware of our responsibility not only to highlight the difficulties of the vulnerable, but to take effective and visible steps to change this,” he says.
Evidence of its commitment to education is the Masana Bursary Scheme, through which the company sponsors 10 students at the University of Limpopo.
“These students are from the surrounding villages in Limpopo and are studying in the faculties of Engineering and Finance,” Sithole says. “Our company vision ‘Fuelling excellence’ is not limited to business – fuelling excellence requires action in our various communities, too.”
