Mandela Day: Old age home thanks Big Save, Pretoria News for making 'big, big difference'

The leadership of Pretoria News and Big Save believe that everyone deserves a good life and that every act of kindness – big or small – counts during this Mandela Month and beyond.

The two brands, both rooted in the communities they serve in the Tshwane region, demonstrated this when they joined hands to celebrate this year’s International Nelson Mandela Day on Friday with the residents of the Mamelodi Old Age Home in Mamelodi East, Pretoria.

Pretoria News and retail partner Big Save donated 67 food hampers to the old age home. The outreach function on Friday was a heartfelt gesture to honour the late former president.

Mandela Day, commemorated annually on July 18, encourages South Africans and the world to dedicate their time to acts of kindness, reflecting on Mandela’s 67 years of service to the nation. In that spirit, Pretoria News and Big Save stepped in with practical support offering not only food but dignity and care to senior citizens often overlooked.

The Mamelodi Old Age Home houses 56 elderly residents aged 60 and above, many of whom rely on limited government grants and small family contributions to make ends meet. The 67 food parcels were each packed with 12.5kg maize meal, samp, salt, sugar, tea, and Kellogg’s Corn Flakes will go a long way in easing their burdens.

Pretoria News was warmly welcomed by Olgar Radingwana, the centre manager, who expressed deep appreciation for the donation.

“This is a big, big difference and this is our first time getting such an amount of food,” said Radingwana. “The money that we were supposed to use to buy food for the next 3 months, we will now use to buy something else.”

Radingwana explained that the home survives mainly on Department of Social Development support and occasional family assistance. “Even the families, they give us R500 — but not all of them,” she said.

Jabulani Mbatha, a representative from Big Save, said their involvement was driven by the spirit of giving that Mandela embodied.

“As we know, Nelson Mandela was a giving person, a loving person today we also thought we should come and spend a day with the old generation,” said Mbatha.

He added that the timing of the donation was intentional: “We know that these groceries will last them until they get paid by SASSA.”

The visit was not just a drop-off; it was a moment of presence and compassion. Staff from both Pretoria News and Big Save took time to engage with the residents, reminding them they are not forgotten.

This Mandela Day initiative highlights how corporate partnerships can uplift communities in meaningful ways. Pretoria News and Big Save, both rooted in the communities they serve, demonstrated the real impact of collective goodwill.

“At Pretoria News, we believe that any act of kindness during Mandela Day cannot go unnoticed. Small gestures, given with intention and love, are how we keep Madiba’s spirit alive — one act at a time,” said Editor Mazwi Xaba.