Hyundai

Hyundai Automotive South Africa has joined an ever-increasing number of automotive manufacturers to offer aid to South Africans during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The South Korean automaker has donated of vehicles to Gift of the Givers and FoodForward SA – both non-governmental organisations who have made it their mission to distribute food to various communities in need.

Hyundai’s contribution includes eight vehicles, some five H100 light commercial vehicles, one H-1 mini-bus and two Grand i10s in panel van guise. The aforementioned organisations will use the vehicles in their drive to get food to communities where families have no income and severe food shortages.

Two of the H100 trucks and the H-1 Bus will go to Gift of the Givers, while FoodForward SA is to receive three H100 trucks and two Grand i10 Cargo panel vans.

The H100 trucks will be fitted with closed canopies donated by Beekman.

“As an automotive company, it made sense for us to donate vehicles available for the transport of food and staff of the two organisations to bring urgent relief

to fellow South Africans who are experiencing hunger and hardship due to circumstances that are completely out of their control,” said Niall Lynch, CEO of Hyundai Automotive South Africa.

Gift off the Givers

The mission of Gift of the Givers, a non-governmental organization started by dr. Imtiaz Sooliman in 1992, is to provide nutritious food to impoverished children and families who are suffering in South Africa due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Gift of the Givers has worked in many countries around the world and is the largest disaster relief group of African origin.

Food Forward

FoodForward SA, established in 2009 to address widespread hunger in South Africa, has a permit to remain open during the COVID-19 lockdown, and it is working with a range of social partners to feed insecure households through its network of registered beneficiary organisations. The organisation relies on corporate and individual partners to implement its cost-effective solution to address hunger and promote social change.

Andy du Plessis, managing director of FoodForward SA, said before the impact of the pandemic, South Africa had 30 million people living below the poverty line and that millions of people, such as informal traders and day-job seekers, were surviving by earning a daily income. Many small businesses were also struggling to stay afloat; the country was in yet another recession – and then the COVID-19 struck.

“It is safe to assume that the Covid-19 collision will be severe and far-reaching, both in the short and long term. People relying on social grants will now have to stretch this meagre amount to help more family members.”

Hyundai Automotive South Africa and the Hyundai Motor Company have donated 10 000 face masks and 7 000 bottles of hand sanitizer to the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg to assist the hospital and its staff in the health crisis brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The donation forms part of Hyundai Automotive SA’s contribution to the nationwide drive to treat, contain and eradicate Covid-19 infections, and of the Hyundai Motor Company’s global effort to assist health and community organisations in the fight against the virus.

“It is very satisfying to deliver a contribution to South African health workers to help them in their high-risk work to treat our fellow citizens who have been infected with Covid-19. Their safety and health on the frontline of this pandemic is important to us – they are life-savers who are exposing themselves to big risks,” said Niall Lynch, CEO of Hyundai Automotive SA, at the handover of the personal protective equipment at the Helen Joseph Hospital.

“This contribution of personal protective equipment follows Hyundai Automotive SA’s donation of eight vehicles in May this year to Gift of the Givers and FoodForward SA to assist them in the distribution of food parcels and other essential material in communities that are suffering due to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Lynch.

The personal protective equipment was received by Dr Jay Punwasi, clinical manager, and Dr Anita Graham, pulmonologist and Covid-19 clinical team leader at the Helen Joseph Hospital.

Earlier this year, five H100 trucks (also called the “Bakkie”), one H-1 Bus and two Grand i10 Cargo panel vans – were donated by Hyundai Automotive SA to Gift of the Givers and FoodForward South Africa. The organisations use the vehicles in their drive to get food to communities where families have no income and suffer from a severe food shortage.

“The donation of the personal protective equipment and the vehicles form part of the Hyundai Motor Company’s global drive to improve and protect the lives of people who are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The Hyundai Motor Company is also working closely with governments all over the world to support communities that have been hit hardest by the pandemic in the form of donations, medical equipment and personal protection items,” said Lynch.

Hyundai Motor Company’s efforts elsewhere in the world during 2020:

Global:

• Work from home implemented according to government guidelines.
• Building disinfection and provision of personal sanitation items (where available).

Asia:

• Delivery of emergency supplies and donation to medical facilities in China.
• Donation of test kits imported from Korea, donation to Public Relief Fund, and production of ventilators with local vendors in India.
• Training centres provided as treatment facilities in South Korea.
• Payments for small and medium sized suppliers expedited in South Korea.
• Free vehicle disinfection service offered to all car owners in South Korea.

Americas:

• Cars and supplies provided to medical teams and acrylic face masks produced with 3D printers to support City of Piracicaba in Brazil.
• Hyundai Solidarity Transport program launched to offer free transportation for the elderly and healthcare professionals in Brazil.
• Donation to Boys and Girls Clubs of Emergency Relief Fund for youth affected by Covid-19 in Canada.
• Hyundai Assurance Job Loss Protection program re-launched in the United States.
• Hyundai Hope on Wheels donation to children’s hospitals to support drive-thru testing in the US.

Europe:

• Fleets of vehicles provided to hospitals and healthcare facilities in Czech Republic, Poland and Spain.
• Fleets of vehicles provided to volunteers and self-isolating customers in United Kingdom.
• Donation of respirators and funds for governments and communities in the Czech Republic and France.
• Stay-at-home contents posted on social media in Russia, Slovakia, United Kingdom and more.

For more information, contact:

Deon Sonnekus

General Manager: Corporate Communications

Hyundai Automotive South Africa

Tel.           +27 61 355 1153

Email:      deons@hyundai.co.za