“Bringing joy to her eyes”, is the best way Mrs Khanyile Sibiya can describe the moment when Mahmood Mall, Trinco Brand Manager, donated a R10 000 cheque towards buying groceries for the year for herself and her grandson, Sandiso Shange, at Kenneth Gardens in Umbilo, Durban, yesterday (27 February 2014).

The donation comes after Durban businessman Param Joseph; owner of Mattress King, committed himself to paying 18-year-old Sandiso’s tuition fees for 2014 towards a National Diploma in Information Technology, after a moving story about how his grandmother, Mrs Sibiya, sold her bed so that Sandiso could register for his chosen field of study.

On top of pledging a donation of R10 000 towards groceries for Sandiso and his grandmother, Trinco is also financially helping another student, Andile Hlatshwayo, who required funding but could not attend varsity this year because his marks obtained in matric were not satisfactory.
Andile also received R10 000 from Trinco yesterday (27 February 2014) to ‘upgrade’ and improve his Maths and Science percentages so that he can get into DUT next year. Andile, Sandiso and Mrs Sibiya are all from Kenneth Gardens, a low-income community where DUT is currently involved in a community-engagement project.

Speaking at the cheque hand-over event, Mrs Sibiya said, “Thank you very much to Trinco for what you have done for us. Without the company’s help, we don’t know what we would have done, so thank you for the wonderful contribution. I also give thanks to God, as he gave me this mind to think about what to do for my grandson. I didn’t want him to be out and about in the wrong company. I wanted him to get the education he deserves and give him a chance to secure his future. My grandson is also very happy to be able to study at DUT now.”

For Andile’s father, Phumlani Hlatshwayo, it was also a very great moment for him and he was overcome with joy as his son received a R10 000 bursary to complete his matric upgrade this year.

“It is a very proud moment for me, I am so grateful to Trinco for helping my son and I will definitely keep an eye on him and make sure he keeps to his studies,” he said excitedly.

Humbled by their gratitude, Mall said Trinco, which is part of Entyce Beverages; a tea and coffee company, was very proud to play a part in shaping the lives of these families. He also personally thanked Mrs Sibiya for sacrificing for her grandchild.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you (Mrs Sibiya) for what you have done, as it was a huge sacrifice and not many people would have done it. We at Trinco are humbled by what you have done for your grandchild and we know how important education is and how important it is for you to educate him and secure his future for him,” he said.

– Waheeda Peters

Pictured: Andile Hlatshwayo (recipient of the R10 000 bursary from Trinco), Tamlyn Fleetwood from the Kenneth Gardens Project, Mahmood Mall; Trinco Brand Manager and Phumlani Hlatshwayo. Also pictured is Mahmood Mall, Trinco Brand Manager while officially handing over the R10 000 cheque towards buying groceries to Mrs Khanyisiwe Olive Sibiya.