“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” Warren Buffett

For the joy of children for generations to come and in honour of Arbor Week and Tourism Month, Tsogo Sun and environment partner, Miss Earth SA, planted 20 indigenous trees with 50 Grade 4 pupils at Diepsloot Primary School No. 4 on 6 September. Ten of the trees were donated by Samsonite.

Tsogo Sun and Miss Earth SA have been involved in the upliftment of Diepsloot Primary no. 4 for six years, contributing to the environmental improvement of the school grounds as well as installing and planting vegetable tunnels for the school feeding scheme.

Miss Earth SA is a leadership programme that annually empowers about 60 young South African women ‘ambassadors’ with knowledge and a platform to make a sustainable difference in combating the destruction of our natural heritage. In the past five years, Tsogo Sun and Miss Earth have planted thousands of trees, going some way towards offsetting the group’s carbon footprint.

As part of the Miss Earth SA leadership programme, 16 young women from across South Africa have been involved in different environmental and social projects and efforts in their communities for the last six months. From different provinces across South Africa, the women have been hosting tree planting and food security projects, clean-ups, collection drives and school educational workshops -  all under the banner of this year’s theme: #WasteStopsWithMe.

Candy Tothill, Tsogo Sun’s GM of Corporate Affairs, says that, together with the conservation of electricity and water, and waste reduction, education and greening initiatives such as tree planting are high on the group’s environmental priorities (https://www.tsogosun.com/citizenship/environment). “We’re extremely aware of the environmental issues the planet is facing, as well as the need to take steps to reduce damaging impact. Planting trees is one way we can make a real difference for many people, particularly in disadvantaged areas, well into the future.”

Ella Bella Leite, Director of the Miss Earth Leadership Programme, says it’s a privilege to be in a position to add green value to the lives of children in Diepsloot. “We believe that the children will benefit from these trees, enjoy them, and take care of them as part of their heritage.”

National Arbor Week is an annual Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries programme “to encourage all South Africans to plant indigenous trees as a practical and symbolic gesture of sustainable and environmental management”, according to the department.

Tsogo Sun’s portfolio includes over 100 hotels and 14 casino and entertainment destinations throughout South Africa, Africa, the Seychelles and Abu Dhabi. For further information, visit tsogosun.com (https://www.tsogosun.com), follow on Twitter and Instagram @TsogoSun or like on Facebook /TsogoSun.

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Priya Naidoo | General Manager- Group Communications | Tel: 011 510 7583 | Fax: 011 510 7231 | Cell: 084 440 0022

About Tsogo Sun

Tsogo Sun is the leading hotels, gaming and entertainment company in South Africa, providing a variety of hospitality and exciting entertainment and leisure experiences. Combining an established heritage with a professional and energised approach, the group proudly encompasses 14 casinos and over 100 hotels in South Africa, Africa, the Seychelles and Abu Dhabi.

The company’s hospitality interests offer a wide distribution of hotels in Africa, providing world-class accommodation across all markets, including elegant, individually branded luxury hotels and well-known trusted market leaders in the premier through budget segments, including Southern Sun Hotels, Garden Court, SunSquare, StayEasy and SUN1 hotels.

The exciting urban and resort casino portfolio includes the most popular entertainment destinations, strategically located throughout South Africa. In the Gauteng province, Tsogo Sun owns the group’s flagship property, Montecasino in Fourways, which features, amongst other attractions, the award-winning Teatro; Gold Reef City Casino and Theme Park in Southern Johannesburg; and Silverstar Casino to the West in Krugersdorp. Additional properties are owned and operated in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, including the jewel on Durban’s Golden Mile, Suncoast Casino, Hotels and Entertainment.

Tsogo Sun is proud to be a Level 1 B-BBEE Contributor with 135% B-BBEE procurement recognition status, 62.1% black ownership and 34.4% black women ownership.  Tsogo Sun invests substantial resources into developing skills, supporting emerging businesses, nurturing communities and creating awareness about the importance of conserving our environment.  The cornerstones of Tsogo Sun Citizenship are managed as part of the group’s sustainability and growth strategies within the specific areas of community, entrepreneurs and the environment.

Tsogo Sun (“TSH”) is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.  The key shareholders of Tsogo Sun are Hosken Consolidated Investments Limited (“HCI”), a JSE listed investment holding company.

Tsogo Sun Gaming supports the National Responsible Gambling Programme. Winners know when to stop.  Only persons over the age of 18 are permitted to gamble. National Problem Gambling counselling toll-free helpline: 0800 006 008.

For more information, go to tsogosun.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @TsogoSun or like us on Facebook /TsogoSun.