On Tuesday, 11 August 2020, Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) handed over Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 response vehicles to the East London Provincial Government.
Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane and BCMM Executive Mayor, Councilor Xola Phakati attended the handover event. The sponsorship and handover consisted of 3 000 3-D printed face shields, 20 000 facemasks and 2 000 hand sanitisers manufactured from MBSA Paintshop.
Four (4) X-Class each equipped with, PPE in the form of medical consumables, non-contact thermometers, face masks, hand sanitisers and educational material vehicles were sponsored to support community outreach across the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. The X-Class has a proven track record when it comes to quality, power and performance both on and off road, and will allow easier accessibility to even the remote lying areas of Buffalo City.
Commenting on the announcement, Andreas Engling, CEO of MBSA and Executive Director Manufacturing said: “A central priority for government and the private sector is the preservation of the health and safety of the people of the Eastern Cape during this challenging time. As Mercedes-Benz South Africa we strive to be a socially responsive corporate citizen by making an impact on the communities in which we operate. This investment announced today demonstrates our determination to work with all social partners to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The community outreach campaign reached areas of Mdantsane, Duncan Village, Ziphunzana, Gompo, Buffalo Flats, and Rural East London (Tsholomnqa, Mooiplaas and Ndevana) in the BCMM.