Sun International uplifts education around the country with essential schooling items

Hospitality group’s socio-economic development donations tally nearly R3.5 million in South Africa

Hospitality group Sun International continues to champion education as one of their socio-economic development focus areas, changing lives for schoolchildren around the country with continued donations and infrastructure improvements that amounted to almost R3.5 million at the start of 2025.

In Diepsloot, Soweto, 100 learners from schools in the area gathered at the education NGO Khensani Collections Centre to receive donations of stationery and sporting items worth R89 000. “Many learners from Diepsloot are from disadvantaged backgrounds and are unable to afford basic essentials to equip them for school,” said Heidi Edson, Sun International’s Group SED Specialist. “Sun International’s SED team assisted with donations of sporting items as well as books, scientific calculators, school bags and stationery to help them kickstart their academic year with sufficient resources and ignite their passion in learning new sports not traditionally played in rural communities such as cricket.”

In Durban, Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom helped keep young women in school with a donation of washable, reusable sanitary towels to 500 learners at Mountview Secondary School, worth R184 500. “Palesa Pads are eco-friendly as they can be used for up to five years, saving money for learners and their families and helping to keep these girls at their desks,” said Sibaya’s Marketing Manager, Raksha Gunpath. At Fairbreeze Secondary School, 203 shiny new school shoes worth R63 000 were handed out in February to school children in a continuation of work done by Sibaya in the wake of last year’s tornado which destroyed homes in the area.  “We hope this donation will improve these learners’ self-images and dignity,” said Sibaya’s General Manager, Virath Gobrie'