A group of Gauteng-based Engen fuel retailers have again brought much-needed relief to the Diepsloot community, this time delivering food parcels and other essential items to 4 000 families.

The deliveries took place on 8 May 2020 and was the third mass distribution of food and basics by the Engen retailers from Johannesburg and Tshwane over the past month.

The long-standing relationship between the fuel retailers and the Diepsloot community ensured that families and residents with the greatest needs were carefully identified to ensure that they received relief packages.

Supported by the authorities, the team adhered to strict COVID-19 lockdown safety regulations during the door-to-door deliveries.

“We as Engen fuel retailers are committed to collaborating with and serving our communities. We hope we have brought some relief to the many families who have been severely impacted by the national lockdown,” says Tshepo Magadla, spokesperson for Engen’ s Johannesburg Fuel Retailers CSI committee.

Having now assisted close to 6 000 families with food and basic supplies over the past month, the Engen fuel retailers extended a word of thanks to all involved.

“This was a team effort,” adds Magadla, “and we are grateful for the financial and logistical assistance we received from Engen Head Office and all our partners including Planact (the NGO which administers all funds), ABC Sweets, KitKat Wholesalers, Alchemy Foods, Maya Security, Diepsloot Secondary School No. 3, Celebration Church in Riverside, Spiritual Chords and all other fuel retailers and stakeholders who helped to make this possible.”

Engen General Manager: Retail, Seelan Naidoo says the company encourages and supports Engen dealers who engage with their local communities, especially during these unprecedented times.

“As a company that cares deeply about the communities in which we operate, and cognizant of the intense hardship brought upon many by COVID-19, we again commend our dealers for their show of community support.”

Engen’s contribution to the fight against COVID-19 includes a number of other investments, including R2.5-million fuel and medical testing equipment to the Gift of the Givers for humanitarian relief, and R1-million worth of fuel to the Department of Health for the usage of frontline health workers, to power their emergency response vehicles.

Recently Engen also launched a campaign to support the fight against COVID-19 by educating local communities on safety measures to curb the spread of the virus by branding 35 spaza shops across the country with educational murals to convey important messages on personal safety.

Engen is South Africa’s largest petroleum company, with over 1 000 Engen service stations and various storage facilities spread across the length and breadth of the country.

A spirit of giving back has catapulted Engen to the forefront of the South African consumer’s imagination, explaining the company’s enduring success in surveys like the Sunday Times Top Brands, where it has been voted South Africa’s favourite “Petrol Station” every year from 2011 to 2019 and the Sunday Times Generation Next, where the youth have voted Engen the country’s “Coolest Petroleum Brand” for 10 consecutive years (2010-2019).

These accolades are further endorsed with Engen being recognised as the fastest growing brand in the country by Brand Finance in partnership with Brand South Africa.