Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) hosted its annual MD’s Charity Golf Day at Copperleaf Golf Estate and Spa on 26 July 2019.
Thusong has been the beneficiary of this annual fundraising event since CCBSA Managing Director, Velaphi Ratshefola took the orphanage under his wing. Located at Mokwalla Township in the Free State town of Vredefort, Thusong was founded more than a decade ago by former teacher, Maria Mopeli, to provide for the community’s vulnerable children. It currently provides meals, homework support, skills development, health awareness, traditional values and counselling to 240 orphans between the ages of six and 20.
“CCBSA believes strongly in directing its corporate citizenship efforts towards positively impacting the communities we serve. When I first saw Thusong, I knew we had to help, and I challenged our employees and business partners to join in giving these children a better start in life,” he says.
“As I knew they would, they responded magnificently and we were recently able to hand over a new centre to Ms Mopeli.”
Funds raised by the MD’s annual Charity Golf Day contributed to the building of the new centre and to other improvements. CCBSA employees have also made a substantial contribution. Through CCBSA’s Soul Ambassador programme, they have contributed toiletries and other goods to the centre and, through internal fund raising initiatives, have raised a total of R2.1 million to date.”
Our next goal is to provide a facility in which orphans can be cared for full-time, says Mr Ratshefola.