SASKO Marks 1 000 Playground Upgrades With Mandela Day Celebration and Special Community Activation

To mark this historic 1 000 playgrounds milestone, SASKO hosted a Mandela Day celebration at Ikaneng Combined School in Diepkloof, Soweto — one of the many schools uplifted through the 'SASKO Siyasizana' initiative, says SASKO.

As part of the Mandela Day activation, SASKO unveiled a special edition loaf made up of 1 000 slices — a symbolic gesture celebrating both the milestone and the late Nelson Mandela's vision for a better South Africa. The loaf was used to prepare sandwiches for the children of Ikaneng and a local NGO that supports feeding initiatives for learners in the community, ensuring that the spirit of Mandela Day is not only celebrated, but lived out through caring for our communities, adds the company.

'SASKO Siyasizana' was launched in 2023 to address the stark inequalities in access to quality play resources at ECD Centres and schools. In many communities, children aged five to nine have no formal and safe space to play: according to the South African Early Childhood Review, more than 60% of young children in the country do not have access to safe, age-appropriate play facilities — yet play is a cornerstone of healthy development and early learning, says the company.

"SASKO believes every child deserves the right to play safely, and to feel like they matter," says Vilosha Soni, Chief Marketing Officer at PepsiCo South Africa. "These playgrounds represent more than structures — they are symbols of dignity and hope and care."

The 'SASKO Siyasizana' programme is grounded in Care, with an investment of over R10-million, and supported by our SASKO consumers, customers and communities who nominated deserving schools and participated in various schools' collection programmes, has enabled us to reach areas that have long been overlooked. Schools from Limpopo to Khayelitsha, Soweto to Gqeberha, now boast colourful play zones designed for inclusivity, imagination and joy, adds the company.

"Thank you to our trusted partners Buco, who helped us bring positive impact in our schools through providing building material for our playground structures. As a brand deeply rooted in local communities, Buco understands that real impact happens when we create spaces that enable children to thrive," says Lesego Moagi, Group Marketing Executive at Buco. "We've seen how the absence of safe, functional infrastructure continues to hold learners back, particularly in the foundation years where care, safety and stimulation matter most. Contributing to the Siyasizana playgrounds has been aligned with our broader commitment to supporting education as a driver of social and economic development."

As part of the celebration, SASKO hosted a panel discussion with key stakeholders to discuss the impact of this and other initiatives which aim to address the needs of children in underserved communities. Nico Moloto, PepsiCo South Africa's Corporate Affairs Director, highlighted the value of partnerships when aiming to boost nutrition and food access in our schools. "As PepsiCo South Africa, we are proud to be able to partner with the Department of Basic Education to supplement its efforts to avoid malnutrition amongst scholars, by running our own Breakfast Nutrition Programme across 35 schools nationally."

Representing the Department of Basic Education, Director of Sports and Enrichment, Given Mabena shares insights into the role of public-sector collaboration in such initiatives, "An active mind begins with a nourished body and through partnerships like the PepsiCo SA Breakfast Nutrition Programme and the 'SASKO Siyasizana' initiative, we are ensuring that learners, especially in their early years, are equipped to learn through play, explore with energy and engage meaningfully in the classroom. These programmes show the power of collaboration between government and the private sector in giving every child the opportunity to thrive physically, cognitively and socially. When learners are nourished, engaged and supported through sport and enrichment, we are not just improving education outcomes — we are shaping futures," Mabena says.

But this is only the halfway point. SASKO's long-term vision is to reach five million children by 2030, turning play into a right, not a privilege. The brand plans to continue fostering relationships with NGOs and government partners to build on this momentum and help scale impact where it's needed most, says the company.

"This is what putting Care into action looks like," says Soni. "When consumers, communities and business come together, we unlock the kind of change that lasts generations."

With support growing, and communities leading the charge, 'SASKO Siyasizana' continues to prove that sustained care builds more than loyalty. It builds futures, concludes the company.

For more information, visit www.sasko.co.za. You can also follow SASKO on Facebook, X, or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of contributor