22 February 2021

The Checkers Gauteng division surprised medical personnel and healthcare workers at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital with a performance by members of the world-renowned Soweto Gospel Choir - observing all Covid-19 protocols.

Taking place in the hospital’s Garden of Recovery, the Soweto Gospel Choir performed 5 songs including Hlohonolofatsa, Avulekile/One Love, Ndikhokhele, Pata Pata and This Little Light of Mine/If You Ever Needed the Lord Before.

Checkers also donated 1 200 care packages - containing snacks, water and essential toiletries - to the hospital’s healthcare workers as a token of appreciation for their tireless efforts in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Included in the care packages are greeting cards specially drawn by children from early childhood development centres supported by Shoprite and Checkers.

“What a joy it was to enjoy a small performance by members of the Soweto Gospel Choir. We are so grateful to Checkers for this wonderful surprise, as well as the donation of care packages. It has truly lifted our spirits!”

- Ms Gladys Bogoshi, CEO of Charlotte Maxeke Hospital

“Covid-19 has taught us many lessons, including who our true heroes are: the people who have been working on the frontlines of this pandemic every single day for almost a year now. We place great value on the communities we serve and we will continue to support those impacted by this pandemic.”

- Lunga Schoeman, CSI Manager for the Shoprite Group

Since the start of the pandemic the Shoprite Group has donated over 12 000 care packages to hospitals in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape.