Ekurhuleni children benefit from BFG Africa Tunney school shoe donation

BFG African Rail hosted a school shoes handover ceremony for its staff at its branch in Tunney on September 5.

BFG Africa management, including marketing specialist Siya Sinyongo, business development manager Sino Ngumbela and safety, health, environment and quality manager Sizo James, led the ceremony where children received educational packs containing school shoes and stationery.

The company’s corporate social investment programme, BFG Cares, made this initiative possible.

BFG Africa’s factory, which opened in July 2019, has expertise in manufacturing areas such as open-contact and resin transfer moulding, adhesive bonding, painting, and assembly of fibreglass-reinforced plastic panels supplied to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa for the interior assembly of the X’trapolis Mega commuter trains by Gibela.

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“We wanted to celebrate and appreciate our staff for their hard work. The day before the ceremony, we had a wellness day to show our care and appreciation for our their mental and physical well-being,” said Sinyongo.

“We wanted to provide shoes as an essential need for their children’s continued education. It is also a testament that charity begins at home, and giving should start with those who give us their best every day.

“We work with the Ithembelihle LSEN School in Primrose, which we have adopted. On Mandela Day, we handed over groceries and maintained their tennis and basketball courts. As a form of fundraising, we asked them to cater for us on our wellness day,” said Sinyongo.

Phumzile Msiza from continuous improvement and compliance was one recipient and said, “I am grateful for the donation because it will reduce the burden of buying new school shoes. I have a five-year-old who will soon start school, and I would have had to spend on stationery and a uniform.

“I look forward to him starting school, knowing that the company provided his first pair of shoes. His journey of 1 000 miles will begin, and BFG will be part of those first steps.

“I have been with the company for two years, and this year has been great. We had our wellness day and received massages.

“My colleagues donated blood, and although I could not due to low blood levels, it was wonderful to see the company’s care and commitment to our well-being.”

Bheki Shungube joined the company’s drilling department last September.

“They are thinking about our children’s futures. My son is in Grade Seven. Children are key to the revolution of society or the nation. A society that cares for its children is a progressive one.

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“There is value in the company’s efforts in supporting employees’ children, and I believe it is a sign of a progressive society,” said Shungube.