#CaxtonCares: Pad drive helps secure a brighter future for girls

“Thank you to everyone who supported the initiative.”

October 7, 2025

Jani de Beer 1 minute read

Receiving their share of the #CaxtonCares and Benoni City Time’s ‘Pad a Girl’s Future,’ sanitary pad drive are Yussuf Bhayat (Actonville Child and Family Welfare Society‘s administrator), Lebogang Matlala (auxiliary social worker) with Jani de Beer (Benoni City Times senior journalist). Photo: Benoni City Times

A total of 577 packets of sanitary pads were collected as part of Caxton Local Media and Benoni City Times’ Pad a Girl’s Future pad drive, held during Women’s Month in August.

Committed to serving the community, Oakfields Pick n Pay agreed to have a donation trolley placed in its store for the duration of the drive and went a step further by donating sanitary pads worth R10 000.

In total, 5 754 pads were distributed by Benoni City Times to the Actonville Child and Family Welfare Society, Benoni Child and Family Welfare Society and Kids Haven.

Kids Haven’s Dumisani Phiri with Jani de Beer. Photo: Benoni City Times

“We are proud to have partnered with our local community newspaper in this initiative,” said Cliff Matlala, buyer at Oakfields Pick n Pay.

“I don’t think people, especially men, understand the impact access to sanitary products has on the lives of young women. It is sad to think that girls often miss school due to a natural function of their bodies and that these items help restore their dignity. I would like to challenge my male counterparts to consider contributing to drives such as this and investing in a girl’s future.”

Taking receipt of 192 packets of these essential products, Yussuf Bhayat, administrator at the Actonville Child and Family Welfare Society, said the items will form part of its festive season care packages.

“We will endeavour to put them in the hands of as many girls as possible to ensure that their new school year starts on a positive note,” he said.

Jani de Beer (left) and Vanessa Carelse, director of the Benoni Child and Family Welfare Society. Photo: Benoni City Times

Dumisani Phiri of Kids Haven added, “Thank you to everyone who assisted in this pad drive. This is going to make the girls in our care very happy. No girl should ever skip school because of her period.”

Collecting the last of the donations, Vanessa Carelse, director of the Benoni Child and Family Welfare Society, said drives such as these restore the dignity of girls facing period poverty.

“We are incredibly grateful for the community’s support. No child should have to sacrifice vital schooling,” she said.

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