Heineken South Africa has donated more than R1m worth of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Gauteng department of health and local communities in the fight against Covid-19.

The donated equipment includes gloves, masks and medical-grade disinfectants distributed to several hospitals to assist health workers at the front line of the pandemic.

Some of the equipment is also intended for a newly erected field hospital at the Nasrec Exhibition Centre, which is to serve as an isolation and quarantine facility in anticipation of an increase in infections.

“Through the two significant donations, we are fulfilling our commitment to ‘promote health and safety’, and ‘growing with and supporting communities “

More than 100 families living in the Mid Vaal have benefited from the donation. This includes Orlando East and Alexandra townships along with a homeless shelter in Roodepoort.

In addition, Heineken worked with community organisations including the Lethabo Feeding Scheme, Reabetswe Community Care Service and Dorah’s Ark.

Heineken also donated groceries to one of its customers, Disoufeng Pub & Restaurant in Soweto, which has been running a soup kitchen twice a week for its community.

“We hope the donations give relief and comfort where it is most needed.”

“We strongly believe in showcasing our global ethos of ‘Brewing a Better World’ through actions. Through the two significant donations, we are fulfilling our commitment to ‘promote health and safety’, and ‘growing with and supporting communities’, especially in the areas in which we operate,” says Heineken SA’s corporate affairs director, Millicent Maroga.

“We hope the donations give relief and comfort where it is most needed.”

The company also donated refreshments to hospital kitchens including tea, coffee, rusks and energy bars for the staff on duty.