With the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic having led to nation-wide lockdowns, Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire (Pty) Ltd (Bakwena) is proud of its various community projects along N1N4 route that have played a huge role in successfully educating and assisting community members during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bakwena’s Disaster Management Teams and Drama Pioneers from the various areas (Hammanskraal, Bapong, Majakaneng, Bokamosa Mooinooi, Marikana/Rustenburg, Swartruggens, Groot Marico, Zeerust and Dinokana), have united and through the South African Red Cross Society, CapaSity, the North West Department of Health and City of Tshwane (Hammanskraal), received COVID-19 training and support.
As a result of this training these teams have been able to assist both the SA Red Cross and Department of Health with mass COVID-19 screening and education campaigns as well as contact tracing.
Some of the activities they have been involved in include: –
- COVID-19 education covering social distancing, prevention and hygiene measures which is carried out at Malls, Clinics, SASSA points, Taxi ranks and bus stops as well as door to door in their communities;
- COVID-19 screening in partnership with the Department of Health;
- Assistance with food package distribution to identified vulnerable individuals in the communities;
- Assistance with screenings at schools based in Swartruggens, Mooinooi, Majakaneng and Bapong area. (Machadam, Seroophata, Majakaneng Primary, Michael Modisakeng, Leokeng, Segwetlhane and Mogale) as part of the phased reopening of schools.
It is encouraging that through these partnerships, these teams have been called upon by various Municipalities to assist in their areas. On Youth Day (16 June) the Department of Health for Madibeng requested the assistance of the Bapong/Majakaneng Teams including two volunteers from the Tshwane Red Cross Society at a COVID-19 screening and education event held at the Keya Rona Mall in Bapong. The Department of Health for Ramotshere Moiloa also invited the Zeerust and Dinokana teams to participate in mass screening event and to date have participated in 3 of these screening events.
“On behalf of the Pretoria and Mahikeng Branches of the South African Red Cross Society (SARCS), we wish to sincerely thank Bakwena Concessionaire for the generous support we have continued to receive towards the above mentioned community projects. The volunteers drawn from Hammanskraal, Bokamoso–Madibeng-Mooinooi and Swartruggens areas have added much appreciated value to the surrounding communities, critically during this COVID-19 pandemic. They have also benefitted immensely from your donations of Protective Personal Equipment (PPE) and Sanitizers” says Mandisa Kalako from SARCS Volunteer Mobilization and Support.
Bakwena’s CSI programmes have had a meaningful impact on many aspects of the lives of people in communities around the routes that we operate. We are committed to their road safety and well- being, but also focus on other initiatives that will bring positive change in their day-to-day lives that will deliver long-term benefits. We are proud and excited our teams are adding value to their communities and applaud them in their efforts to uplift and transform their communities,” concludes Solomon Kganyago, Bakwena’s Commercial Manager.