In line with Scania’s global purpose to Drive The Shift Towards a Sustainable Transport System for business and society at large, Scania South Africa has partnered with the Limpopo Economic Development Agency and Thulamela municipality to develop the R15-million Scania Thohoyandou workshop.
“As part of the ethos of Driving the Shift, identifying new opportunities and finding solutions to local challenges is an important part of our mandate,” says Fabio Souza, MD Scania Southern Africa.
The new Scania workshop investment supports the revitalisation of the underutilized Industrial Park owned by the Limpopo Economic Development Agency in Thohoyandou. With spatial challenges isolating rural businesses, the new location of the workshop will ensure that the black-owned business partner, Scania Boarder Auto Centre, is now closer to its market, while customers will have to travel shorter distances to have their vehicles serviced.
“This is a real-world example of our Customer First philosophy,” says Nomonde Kweyi, GM Marketing & Communications, and Scania Southern Africa. “The workshop’s improved proximity will allow for improved service efficiencies for our valued customers.”
At the soil turning event last Friday (August 21st) attended by Thulamela Mayor Cllr AS Tshifhango, Souza outlined Scania’s commitment to making a sustainable contribution within the communities it operates in. In conjunction with Scania’s donation of the building of a Maths classroom, Science lab and the supply of computer equipment at Ramauba Secondary School in Tshikwarani village Masia, the new workshop will create over 20 job opportunities for local residents.
In addition, as part of the partnership, Scania will service the buses that transport workers and school children in the greater Vhembe district. The workshop will also offer an approved apprenticeship program giving many aspiring workshop technicians the chance to train locally. The workshop is scheduled to be completed by 30 April 2021.
“Through this new Scania franchise dealership, which is led by our partners, David Gotore, Managing Director and Isaac Chalumbira, the CEO and Chairman of Lionshare Holdings (the investor), Scania is committed to continuous improvement and to ensuring we do our part in continually giving back in a sustainable manner and look forward to being a part of the journey of growth and development of this thriving community,” says Souza.
