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BMW Group South Africa has stepped up its response against the spread of COVID-19 by achieving another milestone as the premium vehicle manufacturer has unveiled a 150-bed overflow facility the Group built at Bronkhorstspruit Hospital, east of Pretoria. This forms part of a long-term and sustainable investment to the value of R76 million, to benefit the communities.
Long-term and sustainable investments
This entails more than 800 beds in nine hospitals and four community health clinics, including Phedisong, Soshanguve Multi-Purpose Centre, Kgabo CHC and KT Motubatse, as well as two COVID-19 screening and testing centres.
The investment in Bronkhorstspruit by the vehicle manufacturer is the largest project. Built from scratch, furnished and prepared to be operationally ready – with a 150-bed capacity structure, aims to foster pandemic preparedness at community level.
This sustainable investment and infrastructure will be testament of BMW Group South Africa’s commitment and impact to South Africa under the banner of WeBuildMoreThanJustCars in the form of a longlasting legacy that will last for many years to come post the pandemic.
The unveiling follows a previous one in September when BMW Group South Africa delivered 150 hospital beds to the Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital and 200 beds to the Jubilee District Hospital, as part of the total 800 beds donated.
The company also donated an ambulance, which is in full operation, as well as the three Plant Rosslyn-built BMW X3s. These first responder vehicles are servicing the Ga-Rankuwa, Mabopane and Soshanguve areas.
BMW Group South Africa has procured and distributed PPE to a number of identified hospitals and clinics, to ensure those who are risking their lives to save others are well protected.
“As we cut this ribbon today, I would like to thank our valued partners: the Gauteng Department of Health, the South African government and the German government. Without their cooperation, continuous collaboration and hard work, we wouldn’t be able to achieve what we have achieved today by making a real difference in the lives of our people,” said Peter van Binsbergen, CEO: BMW Group South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
#WeAreUnited
BMW Group South Africa has always looked for ways to collaborate with like-minded stakeholders in order to make a positive difference in the lives of various communities.
The Group partnered with the South African and German governments as they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), in June 2020. The MOU resulted in R76 million being made available to assist in the fight against COVID-19.
Last year, the organisation also partnered with the South African Red Cross Society by loaning them 17 BMW X3s to fight against the spread of COVID-19.
More than 40,000 high-quality protective respiratory face masks were handed over to one of BMW Group South Africa’s key collaborators: the Gauteng Department of Health. The masks are assisting health workers in their fight to save lives against the dreaded virus.
BMW Group South Africa: building more than just cars
BMW Group South Africa is more than just an employer to the communities surrounding the Rosslyn area. For almost 50 years, the company has been manufacturing vehicles at Plant Rosslyn – BMW Group South Africa has been knitted into the community’s fabric.
As an integral member of the communities where it operates and the wider public, BMW Group South Africa has supported more than 144 schools in the past decades, and admitted more than 2000 young children at its own Early Learning Centre at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn.
All of BMW Group South Africa’s investments underline its continued commitment to the communities in which so many of its BMW Group Plant Rosslyn associates live.
