24 Sep 2014

CA Sales has donated P2 million towards the Presidential Charity Trust, whilst Orange Botswana has committed P350 000 to purchase donkey carts towards the Trust.

Receiving the donation on Monday, September 22 President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama expressed appreciation for the generous donations.

President Khama said through these generous donations, the two companies had responded  compassionately to one of the five Ds of dignity.  “There is a saying that if you want to go quickly, you go alone, but if you want to go far you go together. 

And I think as a country, we can go far if we all work together in this regard,” he said. 

CA Sales, President Khama said, had pledged around 72 houses towards the Presidential Housing Appeal. 

He said the company had so far donated P3 million in addition to the P2 million that it donated on Monday. 

Since the Presidential Housing Appeal began, he said already 404 houses had been constructed all around the country. 

Currently, he said, 77 houses were still under construction, adding there was a committee that oversaw the collection and implementation of the donations and people were dedicated to helping the needy. 

Shelter, President Khama said, was one of the most basic human needs when one talked about dignity, adding that there were still some very small isolated places in the country, which had not yet reached the criteria of being declared official or recognised settlements.

Some children in these areas, he said walked significantly long distances to get to school under harsh climatic conditions, even if they were not well enough to walk such long distances. 

Therefore, Orange Botswana’s donation of donkey carts, President Khama said would go a long way in helping these children to attend school. 

From their design, he added the donkey carts could carry 10 to 12 children. 

Presenting his company’s donation, Orange Botswana chief executive officer , Mr Phillippe Baudin  said P200 000 worth of carts would be delivered in 2014, whilst P150 000 worth of carts would be delivered in 2015. 

This donation, Mr Baudin said was mainly targeting primary school pupils in rural villages where transportation was a challenge.

For his part, CA Sales (South Africa) CEO, Mr Trevor Rogers said, “we are privileged and hopeful that this will go a long way in the journey of providing housing for so many people that need housing. We also know that it is difficult for many of us who don’t have the opportunity to get housing that easily. And, we think that what we are presenting here today will go a long way in providing towards that Fund,” he added. ENDS