Daimler Trucks & Buses and Mercedes-Benz donate R1,5 million towards disaster relief

August 2, 2021

Daimler Trucks & Buses Southern Africa (DTBSA), Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services have joined forces to present the Gift of the Givers Foundation with a donation of R1,5 million in support of disaster relief efforts.

The donation follows the recent unrest and violence that affected some parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng communities and will help to feed 3 000 families.

Michael Dietz, president and CEO of Daimler Trucks & Buses Southern Africa, says his company is proud to assist. “As DTBSA, we are joining other corporates who are responding on the ground to help those in dire need. It is indeed in times like these that we need to work together to support each other. These food parcels will go a long way to relieve the ongoing food shortage crisis that resulted from the unrest. We are proud to have partnered with a well-established humanitarian-aid organisation that is at the forefront of making a difference as well as restoring hope and dignity to the vulnerable. If we continue with the Spirit of Ubuntu, I am confident that we will rebuild our beautiful country to return to its economic growth and success,” he tells FOCUS.

Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, chairman and founder of Gift of the Givers Foundation, weighs in on strong partnerships: “Gift of the Givers Foundation appreciates the generosity by DTBSA at this critical juncture in our history when so many of our communities are suffering long-standing hunger, the global pandemic, unemployment, external economic factors, and the recent unrest that has enhanced food insecurity in our country. Corporate intervention in dealing with the hunger crisis is critical as government resources are limited given our economic challenges.”

Gift of the Givers rolled out 400 000 food parcels last year, and currently has an additional request for 30 000 since the onset of the unrest and violence. The Foundation is working hard to reach out to priority areas timeously. The DTBSA contribution and the support with trucks to deliver these food parcels to the communities of Vosloorus in Johannesburg, as well as Greytown, Dalton, and Ndwedwe in KwaZulu-Natal will help to accelerate the process.