Northern Cape, South Africa – 18 July 2025 – In honour of Mandela Day 2025, AfriSam, Traxion and the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR), joined forces to roll up their sleeves and invest in the future of the Ulco and Delportshoop communities in the Northern Cape.
This year’s initiative reflects the Mandela Day 2025 theme, “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity”, and was driven by a shared commitment to meaningful, community-led change in areas where each organisation has a footprint.
The day’s activities focused on three key beneficiaries identified through a local needs analysis: Ulco Primary School, Delportshoop Intermediate School, and the Delportshoop Community Library.
“Mandela Day reminds us that real change begins with showing up for our communities. At AfriSam, we believe in building more than infrastructure—we’re here to help build futures. Partnering with Traxtion and the RSR allowed us to make a tangible difference in Ulco and Delportshoop, and we’re proud to have contributed to spaces where learning, growth, and opportunity can thrive,” says Nathi Shoba, General Manager, AfriSam Ulco Operation.
Refurbishments at the schools included painting and ceiling repairs in Grade R classrooms, the revamping of a Grade R playground, and the donation of much-needed school uniforms. The library also received support to address its software and hardware shortages.
“We operate across nine African countries and around ten sidings in South Africa, including Ulco, we understand that our role extends far beyond the tracks. Our work touches real communities, and with that comes a responsibility to invest in their growth and resilience,” said Nnoni Mohlaphuli, Brand, Communications and Marketing Manager at Traxtion.
Ten computers preloaded with Microsoft software were donated to support the technology needs of the library and local schools. Stakeholder involvement, through both funding and in-person participation, helped amplify the initiative’s reach and impact.
According to Madelein Williams, Executive: Media and Communications at the RSR, the Regulator is honoured to join forces with partners in building a legacy of impact in Ulco and Delportshoop. “Mandela Day challenges us not only to serve, but to do so with integrity, purpose and lasting intent. At the RSR, we believe fairness and mutual respect must extend beyond organisational values—they must reach the playgrounds, classrooms and futures of children in communities too often overlooked. By standing with like-minded partners, we’re not donating time, we’re investing in excellence, accountability and the promise of a better tomorrow,” she said.
The day saw handovers take place at all three sites, underscoring how the legacy of Nelson Mandela continues to inspire action rooted in unity, compassion, and the power of collective effort.
Beyond the physical donations and refurbishments, the initiative also served as a platform to encourage youth development and career awareness. School leadership and community leaders were in attendance to receive the donations on behalf of the leaners.
Mandela Day gives us an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to dignity, opportunity, and service. This campaign is an expression of how partnerships across sectors can create lasting value where it matters most” concluded Mohlaphuli.
About Traxtion
Traxtion is a South African private rail operator that has been delivering class leading rail solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa for almost four decades. Traxtion has one of the largest private rail train fleets in Africa and operates in nine African countries. Traxtion has held a Rail Safety Regulator permit in South African for more than 20 years and is fully ISO9001 certified. Traxtion’s rail training centre is TETA, QCTO and NAMB accredited. Traxtion has never operated on the core South African rail network, until now.
About
About AfriSam
AfriSam is a leading supplier of superior quality construction materials and technical solutions in Southern Africa. With a proud legacy dating back to 1934, AfriSam has played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s infrastructure through its range of cement, aggregate, and readymix concrete products. The company operates across South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini. Guided by its core values of People, Planet, and Performance, AfriSam is committed to sustainable development and creating concrete possibilities for a better African future. For more information, visit www.afrisam.co.za.
About RSR
The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) was established in terms of the National Railway Safety Regulator Act No 16 of 2002 (as amended) to oversee and promote safe railway operations through appropriate support, monitoring and enforcement, guided by an enabling regulatory framework. In the interest of rail safety, the RSR collects and disseminates information relating to safe railway operations to the public using rail safety awareness campaigns. The Railway Safety Regulator is mandated to oversee railway transport safety while operators retain responsibility for managing their own operational safety. It develops and maintains a regulatory framework through regulations and standards, monitors compliance via audits, inspections, and investigations, and disseminates safety-related information. The RSR also works to harmonise South Africa’s railway safety regime with that of the SADC region and promotes improved safety performance to encourage greater use of rail transport. www.rsr.org.za
