Armsta remembers the elderly of Alex on Mandela Day
Officials from the taxi association spent more than 67 minutes pampering more than 60 Alex grannies and granddads with a sumptuous lunch on Mandela Day.
![An Alex band entertains the grannies and granddads at the Armsta Mandela Day luncheon. Photo: Sipho Siso](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/07/siso30ArmstaMandelaD_65782-e1690535883140-780x470.jpg)
The Alexandra Randburg Midrand and Sandton Taxi Association (Armsta) took a break from its busy schedule of ferrying commuters to their various destinations to pay special attention and deliver goodies to their elderly passengers on Mandela Day.
The officials from the taxi association spent more than 67 minutes pampering over 60 grannies and granddads with a sumptuous lunch and were later handed Armsta branded beanies, blankets and food hampers at the event held at the Altrek Hall in East Bank, Alexandra.
![Alex FM DJ Eddie Magidela hands over blankets to Thembisa resident Esther Bulane. Photo: Sipho Siso](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/07/siso30ArmstaMandelaD_65769-e1690535483222.jpg)
Speaking in an interview with Alex News, Armsta public relations officer Tladi Lepolesa, said they had selected an equal number of people from each of the 10 wards in Alex but when the news spread about the event, even more people came and ‘we had to buy more food parcels as the old people were having their lunch as we could not chase anyone away’.
“We thought we should come to the assistance of the elderly people who still form part of our commuters as they did even in their younger years and we need to appreciate and help them in their times of need, especially under these tough economic times and bad weather at the same time,” Lepolesa said.
![Grannies and granddads at the Armsta Mandela Day luncheon. Photo: Sipho Siso](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/07/siso30ArmstaMandelaD_65843-e1690535512804.jpg)
He said the money raised from members of the association for this event roughly amounted to R40 000. “I would like to thank the members of the association for coming to the party in raising the money to make the event a success,” he added.
Over and above the Mandela Day event, Lepolesa pointed out that the association also provides free transport during funerals for the bereaved, especially for the not so well to do members of the community. “We are also soon going to embark on a drive for sanitary towels for girls in primary schools.”
![Alex FM DJ and master of ceremonies at the Mandela Day luncheon Eddie Magidela distributes the blankets to the grannies and granddads. Photo: Sipho Siso](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/07/siso30ArmstaMandelaD_65811-e1690535530152.jpg)
![Armsta officials sort out the additional food parcels to accommodate other grannies and granddads that got wind of the food parcel and also pitched up. Photo: Sipho Siso](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/07/siso30ArmstaMandelaD_65803-e1690535593630.jpg)
![Armsta Women's Desk advisor Gladys Matlhare speaks before the grannies and granddads Mandela Day luncheon. Photo: Sipho Siso](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/07/siso30ArmstaMandelaD_65874-e1690535619867.jpg)
![Armsta public relations officer Tladi Lepolesa addresses the grannies and granddads at the Alterek luncheon. Photo: Sipho Siso](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/07/siso30ArmstaMandelaD_65810-e1690535636823.jpg)
![Armsta officials sort out the additional food parcels to accommodate other grannies and granddads that got wind of the food parcels and also pitched up. Photo: Sipho Siso](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/07/siso30ArmstaMandelaD_65850-e1690535663603.jpg)
![Ward 76 Councillor Zandile Mothupi (pink headgear) speaks at the Armsta Mandela Day luncheon for the grannies and granddads. Photo: Sipho Siso](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/07/siso30ArmstaMandelaD_65870-e1690535696745.jpg)
![Armsta Women's Desk members enter the Altreek Hall in song during the Mandela Day luncheon for grannies and granddads. Photo: Sipho Siso](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/07/siso30ArmstaMandelaD_65905-e1690535729280.jpg)
![One of the grannies Lizzy Mankwe also thanks Armsta for its generous spirit towards the community of the elderly. Photo: Sipho Siso](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/07/siso30ArmstaMandelaD_67892-e1690535762949.jpg)
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