Clinix Health Group Celebrates Mandela Month with Acts of Dignity, Growth, and Giving

By Thembi Moyo

In celebration of Mandela Month and in the spirit of giving, Clinix Health Group has rolled out two powerful initiatives that reflect its deep-rooted commitment to community care, education, and youth empowerment.

The first initiative, “Shoes for Dignity: Actively Embracing Our Youth,Shaping a Better Future Together,” saw the donation of 1,048 new pairs of school shoes to learners across township and rural communities, including Johannesburg CBD, Soweto, Vosloorus, Sebokeng, and Mahikeng. For many of these children, receiving a proper pair of school shoes means more than just comfort it represents dignity, pride, and the confidence to walk toward a better future.

TC Esterhyzen Primary School received 138 school shoes only for grade 7. “Children walk to school in the freezing winter, wearing worn shoes, still hoping for the better future promised by their forefathers,” said Dr. Khamane Matseke, Executive Chairman of Clinix Health Group. “This initiative shows that by working together, companies like ours can partner with government and communities to build a better South Africa.”

Simultaneously, Clinix launched “Clinix Farmacy”, a Mandela Day initiative aimed at planting seeds of health, care, and self-reliance. Through this project, each of the Group’s eight hospitals partnered with a local school to establish sustainable vegetable gardens. TC Esterhyzen Primary School received a variety of seedlings including kale, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, beetroot, and onions with each school receiving 180 seedlings in total. Gardening tools, gloves, compost, and frost covers were also provided to ensure long-term impact and sustainability.

“These gardens are about far more than vegetables,” said a Clinix spokesperson. “Through Clinix Farmacy, we are creating sustainable spaces where learners can grow food, develop critical life skills, and give back to their communities. It’s a long-term investment in health, care, and self-reliance.”

The aim is not only to support classroom learning but also to help address food insecurity by turning schoolyards into green hubs of nourishment. As the gardens grow, so does a spirit of empowerment and environmental awareness among learners a living tribute to the legacy of Nelson Mandela.

The heartfelt appreciation from a learner brought added meaning to the initiatives. thank you Clinix for giving us school shoes because some kids can’t even afford to buy them. So, we thank Clinix,” one learner shared. Principal added, “I am thankful and happy because we’re getting new shoes, and some people can’t even afford them.”

Principal expressed gratitude and hope for future collaboration: “Some of our learners come from disadvantaged families this has really helped them. Thank you so much. We hope to work with you not just today, but on other projects too.”

Clinix Health Group’s efforts this Mandela Month are more than symbolic. Whether through shoes that restore dignity or gardens that nourish entire communities, the message is clear: true care is active, compassionate, and continuous. In walking beside communities, Clinix continues to live up to its promise Where Health & Care Meet.