To honour Nelson Mandela on what would have been his 97th birthday, the Shoprite Group is celebrating the legacy of South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela by mobilizing some of its 130 000 staff and providing resources to assist needy organisations across the country on International Mandela Day, 18 July 2015.

Shoprite’s Mandela Day activities are an extension of the company’s on-going work to bring positive socio-economic change in communities which it serves. Nelson Mandela himself said:  “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”

Over the last few days, hundreds of staff members from the Group’s Head Office in Cape Town and its seven divisional offices in other main centres of South Africa started work on 17 major projects. This year the Group aims to alleviate hunger in the poorest of communities by supporting sustainable projects that provide meals for those in need beyond Mandela Day. Some of the activities include; planting vegetable gardens, aiding community feeding schemes and schools offering pupils meals, food security and hygiene training, renovating of soup kitchens, purchasing of new cooking equipment, construction of sheds for feedings schemes that offer shelter from hot summer and rainy winter days.

Furthermore, smaller initiatives from more than 320 stores nationwide are focussing on local projects within their own communities that aim to contribute in a positive way to the lives of the elderly, abused and destitute women and children, disabled adults and children, and those who find themselves unemployed and homeless.

The Group also partnered with Stop Hunger Now, an international organisation that coordinates the distribution of food and other life-saving aid worldwide. Shoprite staff volunteered with enthusiasm as they tag teamed to pack 36 228 meals over two days at the head office in Cape Town. The meals will be donated to five ECD (Early Childhood Development) programs in Crossroads, Cape Town, to feed 250 children for 12 months.

Caring for the communities it operates in has always been a priority for the Shoprite Group. The Group appreciates the loyal support from the community and is continuously looking for ways in which to give something back to its customers. In the footsteps of Mandela we encourage all individuals to “Take Action! Inspire Change”, it only takes 67 minutes to make a difference.

Food Parcels First Group – The first group of volunteers from Shoprite’s Head Office with some of the Stop Hunger Now parcels they packed, in total 36 228 meals were packed and donated.

Food Parcels Neil Schreuder – Shoprite Checkers Marketing Director, Neil Schreuder, also gave 67 minutes of his time to help pack some of the 36 228 Stop Hunger Now meals. Pictured with him Nasiphi Fazi (left) and Adene Heinz (right).

Sir Lowy Pass – Jana Thirion, from Shoprite’s HR Department, at Sir Lowry’s Pass Primary School showing a piece of clothing available as part of the Swop Shop.

Sir Lowy Pass Swop Shop - Pierre Cronje, Shoprite’s HR Department, takes one of the pupils from Sir Lowry’s Pass Primary School through the Swop Shop, where they collect recycling and swop it for basic necessities.

Shoprite Head Office Mandela Day projects (Short Summary):

Teams from the Shoprite Group’s Head Office in Cape Town have identified beneficiaries with a variety of interventions, which include:

Lofdal Community Project (Kraaifontein)

Renovating - painting, fixing swings, gutters, taps etc. Putting in new carpet

Sir Lowry's Pass Primary School Swop shop & Feeding Scheme (Sir Lowry’s Pass Village)

Purchase some much needed supplies and equipment for the Feeding Scheme at the Sir Lowry’s Pass Primary School for the July holidays.  Stock the Swop Shop at Sir Lowry’s Pass Primary School as part of a Hunger Relief and Eco Initiative – kids collect recycling and swop it for basic food supplies.

The Haven (Bellville)

Donate equipment for kitchen, non-perishable foods to stock up, painting of kitchen and dining room, building maintenance, tools and stock for vegetable garden, food on the day.

Eldene Primary School (Elsies River)

Renovate their kitchen and purchase food for their feeding scheme.

Pentecostal Development Association (Belhar)

Help upgrade facilities (carport, concrete flooring) assist with kitchen supplies as well as stock up on food supply.

Rock a Bye Baby House (Kuilsriver) and Plantation Primary School (Grassy Park)

Put up twin shed for feeding scheme. Donate stove, fridge and food.

De Wavern Primary School (Ruyterwacht)

Cleaning and renovation of the kitchen. Food donations. Cooking and freezing meals for the feeding scheme.

Hobe Educare Centre (Delft)

Arrange transportation of donated structure from Elsies River to Green Park, Collect donations (clothing & food), purchase of goods needed to make a difference in the community.

Shoprite Divisional Offices Mandela Day projects (Short Summary):

Kwandile Food Catering Service - Soweto Home For The Aged (Soweto, Central Western Jabavu - Gauteng)

Supplying of various items; fridge, microwave, deepfreeze, baking oven, blender, kitchen goods. Repair and renovation of storeroom and painting kitchen



St Anthony’s Day Care Centre For The Aged (Boksburg - Gauteng)

Rewiring of Stove , Retiling of kitchen floor, Painting of kitchen, Repairs to lighting in kitchen , stainless steel cupboard, 30litre & 60litre stainless steel pots, Walk in fridge shelving, Stainless steel, Gas stove burners for large pots, Water jugs, colanders, serving spoons, Re-carpet TV room, Plastic table clothes for dining room tables.

My Kassie 2nd Chance Foundation (Eersterust - Gauteng)

Feed 1000 underprivileged kids and adults.

Haasbekkie Pre -Primary and Care centre (Bloemfontein – Free State)

Stock the school with food supplies, cooking essentials and a stove.

Domino Foundation (Durban North – KwaZulu-Natal)

Preparing and packaging peanut butter sandwiches for hungry children, assisting families and individuals that are in crisis, in the township community. Sponsoring the required goodies and help feed the community.

Linge Tot’s Development Centre (Kwazakhele – Eastern Cape)

Stocking the primary school with food supplies, cooking essentials and a gas stove.  Donation of gas for daily cooking purposes.

Phambili (Strandfontein – Western Cape)

Donate a deep freezer, pots, bowels, spoons, cups and a gas stove. Give them lunch and a care package to take home with food essentials.

Huis Ravenzicht (Kraaifontein – Western Cape)

High tea with entertainment from Hugo Nieuwoudt and food and toiletry hampers.