MetroFibre honours Mandela Day 2026 with four community initiatives across Gauteng and the Eastern Cape

MetroFibre marked Nelson Mandela Day 2026 with four community initiatives spanning Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, continuing its firm commitment to education, digital inclusion and community upliftment that runs throughout the year. Mandela Day was a special opportunity to bring together partners and employees to participate hands-on and contribute to several of the community projects.

“Community upliftment and investment is a standing value at MetroFibre. One of our key commitments is to ensure that no child or school is left behind in a world where connectivity is fundamental to digital inclusion and education. This year's initiatives, delivered in partnership with JVD Solutions, Taboo Data Centre, Imitha Tech and community foundations, show that commitment rooted in the communities where MetroFibre operates. The Nelson Mandela Day initiative reflects MetroFibre's broader commitment to social responsibility and community development, demonstrating how corporate partnerships can create meaningful change across multiple sectors while honouring the legacy of Madiba,” says Liza Kok, Chief Marketing Officer at MetroFibre.

Kaalfontein Secondary School, Thembisa

MetroFibre's investment in Kaalfontein Secondary School has unfolded in three phases over recent months, each building on the last. In partnership with JVD Solutions and Taboo Data Centre, MetroFibre extended fibre connectivity into the school's staff room, followed by repairs to damaged flooring and roof leaks, replacement of broken windows and installation of new ceiling boards.

On 17 July, around 50 volunteers spent Mandela Day on hands-on upliftment work at the school, including tree branch removal and clean-up, garden and outdoor maintenance, painting window frames, refreshing classrooms and learner spaces, gardening around the administration building, and general litter collection.

Laerskool Rachel de Beer Primary School, Wonderboom, Pretoria North

Laerskool Rachel de Beer serves 1,672 learners of which around 70% receive subsidised education, and more than 10% rely on the school's feeding scheme for a daily meal. To support the scheme, MetroFibre installed two new stovetops in the feeding-scheme kitchen, while MetroFibre staff also personally donated essential kitchen equipment, cutlery, crockery and non-perishable food items, ensuring the kitchen is better equipped to feed learners who depend on it.

Laerskool Frans Conradie Primary School, Despatch

Laerskool Frans Conradie recently joined the MetroFibre FibrEd Schools Programme, through which the school now receives a 1Gbps fibre service. The school has a proud, passionate sports programme, and its staff approached MetroFibre for help repairing the cricket nets.

On Mandela Day, MetroFibre's Eastern Cape team removed the old cricket matting and prepared the cement floor for new mats. New mats have already been ordered, with installation expected within weeks.

Sisonke Sophumelela Foundation Soup Kitchen, Zwide and New Brighton

MetroFibre's Zwide and New Brighton teams joined forces with Imitha Tech and volunteers from the Sisonke Sophumelela Foundation to support the Foundation's soup kitchen. On Saturday, 18 July, the combined team prepared, cooked and served a full meal, including chicken, rice, potatoes, carrots, cabbage and cold drinks, to approximately 200 community members.

The day was about more than the meal. Cooking alongside the Foundation gave MetroFibre's teams the chance to build genuine relationships with the community. To help the Foundation continue its work beyond Mandela Day, MetroFibre also fulfilled items from its wish list, including 85 plastic chairs, 18 aprons and six large aluminium serving pots.

Across all four initiatives, MetroFibre employees gave of their own time and skills, from painting classrooms to serving meals, reflecting a company-wide culture that extends into every region where MetroFibre operates. Combined with the partnerships that made each project possible, the Mandela Day 2026 activities are a continuation of work already under way, and a foundation for community projects still to come.

Ends…

Photos:

Caption: On Mandela Day, MetroFibre's Eastern Cape team removed the old cricket matting at Laerskool Frans Conradie Primary School and prepared the cement floor for new mats, with installation expected within weeks.

On 17 July, MetroFibre staff and volunteers spent Mandela Day on hands-on upliftment work at Kaalfontein Secondary School, Thembisa including garden and outdoor maintenance and clean-up, painting window frames, refreshing classrooms and learner spaces.

Caption: Laerskool Rachel de Beer serves 1,672 learners of which around 70% receive subsidised education, and more than 10% rely on the school's feeding scheme for a daily meal. To support the scheme, MetroFibre installed two new stovetops in the feeding-scheme kitchen, while MetroFibre staff also personally donated essential kitchen equipment, cutlery, crockery and non-perishable food items, ensuring the kitchen is better equipped to feed learners who depend on it.