South32 hands over children's ward at Sebokeng

South32 community development manager for Africa region; Nomfundo Mqadi cuts the ribbon with George Mazarakis from Carte Blanche’s Making a Difference Trust to officially open the paediatric high care/ ICU ward at Sebokeng Hospital.

State-of-the-art facility

Working through the Carte Blanche Make a Difference Trust, the mining house donated R4,854m help build the state-of-the-art paediatric high care/ ICU ward. The facilitywill reduce the load on Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and offer emergency critical care for children under the age of six years.

The hospital is situated in the Sebokeng township where the majority of South32’s Metalloys smelter employees live. It is a regional hospital servicing Sedibeng and Ekhuruleni municipalities as well as some parts of Sasolberg in the Free State province.

Business key to social issues

“We are a business that lives by our values of care, trust, togetherness and excellence. We work to create shared value, that is, economic value while also making a positive contribution to the quality of life of the communities, regions and countries in which we operate.”

“We understand that the problems of healthcare that face this country are big and complex and cannot be solved by government and local communities alone.”

“It is only together, with a shared vision of the preciousness and dignity of each person in this world, can we meet these challenges. The business sector has emerged as a key player and needs to accept responsibility and work in collaboration with these stakeholders to address social issues,” South32 vice president: corporate affairs Africa region, Lulu Letlape says.

She concludes by saying: “This high care unit will foster dignity, reduce infant mortality, and reduce patient infection, which is a challenge in healthcare facilities. The innovative treatments and modern services will improve children’s’ lives.”