Company Announcement - Vodacom employees and stakeholders today united at Vodacom in Midrand ahead of this year’s Nelson Mandela International Day, to tackle the immense task of packing thousands food parcels for learners from previously disadvantaged schools.This initiative forms part of a larger project which the Vodacom Foundation is rolling out across the nation, building on its inaugural food security drive launched in honour of the International Nelson Mandela Day in 2013. The R3, 9 million food project will this year see a total of 40 000 food parcels packed by Vodacom employees and will be distributed the next week when schools reopen. All Vodacom employees across the country will contribute to this initiative.

Learners and their families will each receive nutritious food parcels consisting peanut butter, morevite, bake beans in tomato, sugar beans, Koo mixed vegetable, Hugo mixed fruit jam, pilchard in tomato and Ace maize meal. Vodacom Group Chief Executive Office, Shameel Joosub says that volunteering is a crucial element of giving back for the Vodacom family. Joosub says: “This year we recognize Tata Mandela’s outstanding contribution to the creation of a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic South Africa by celebrating his example of dedication to the values that promote conflict resolution, improved race relations, human rights and gender equality.

“Tata Madiba gave his life to bring about change to the lives of the people of South Africa. In order to honour this lifetime sacrifice, our gift to him is to give our time to help make the world a better place. This is one of the best and most befitting ways we can thank Tata for being an inspiration to the world.” “We will continue to work with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Department of Basic Education to inspire the world to make these values a part of culture everywhere. Vodacom is committed to inspire its employees to make every day a Mandela Day,” says Joosub.

Thousands of volunteers, including members of the Blue Bulls, the Department of Basic Education, Vodacom and the Nelson Mandela Foundation, will race the clock to pack as many food parcels as possible within 67 minutes. Once their time is up, a new team will take over. Joosub says: “We would like to urge other fellow South Africans to take part in every day, every time and anywhere service to humanity by feeding the hungry and helping the needy.”

CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Sello Hatang, says: “Vodacom continues to be a valued partner in driving the Nelson Mandela International Day ethos and Tata’s legacy forward. "Food security is a vital part of the development journey for leaders and we would like to challenge others to take a leaf out of Vodacom's book to ensure the future of our youth."