Bucs join forces with Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital

Orlando Pirates has joined forces with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust to increase awareness of the paediatric hospital which opens in December of this year.

Conceived by the late former President Nelson Mandela and championed by CEO of the Trust, Sibongile Mkhabela – and built entirely from donations from corporates, philanthropists and ordinary people – the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital will be a child-centred high-care facility working on a referral-only basis.

The hospital in Saxwold is to help alleviate the dire paediatric need in the country and in the southern Africa region, especially in areas of cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery, haematology, oncology, nephrology, pulmonology, craniofacial surgery, neurosciences and general paediatric surgery.

The hospital will treat sick children from the southern African region regardless of their socio-economic status; and, ultimately aims to build a strong referral network with all of South Africa’s major public hospitals.

The partnership with Pirates is borne out of an understanding of the need to raise awareness of this hospital project, and reaching South Africans from diverse backgrounds.

“South Africa is a country of sports lovers, and through the support of Orlando Pirates, we will be able to reach a much bigger audience that we would otherwise miss,” said Joe Seoloane, project leader at the hospital.

Pirates feels it is incumbent upon the club to give back to the community through this project. “We’re, therefore, honoured to partner up with the hospital as we believe safeguarding the future of South African children through healthcare is a most worthy course,” said Thandi Merafe, Orlando Pirates media officer.

Pirates will be supporting the hospital with in-stadium advertising at home league matches, social media and publicity campaigns.

The hospital is the first of its kind to be built solely on the generosity of the world’s citizens, making this hospital a symbol of a unique partnership between the public sector, the private sector and civil society.

To date, R800 million has been raised towards the R1 billion that will be needed for construction, equipment, interior design and training, as well as other capital costs.

Major donors include Islamic Relief Worldwide, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, DG Murray Trust, Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and Macsteel.

National Skills Fund has donated R76 million towards the training of nurses and doctors for the hospital. Nearly 70 bursaries have been awarded to date and fellowship training for medical doctors has also commenced.

Construction began on 22 April 2014 with the bulk earthworks stage. Group Five was appointed in June of the same year and is on track with construction.