In just two years, SASKO’s Siyasizana Play Better initiative has reached a milestone that speaks to the power of purpose and collective action.
1,000 playgrounds at early childhood development centres (ECDs) and primary schools have been upgraded across South Africa, providing safe and engaging play spaces to more than one million children.
To mark this historic 1,000 playgrounds milestone, the brand hosted a Mandela Day celebration at Ikaneng Combined School in Diepkloof, Soweto – one of the many schools uplifted through the Siyasizana initiative.
As part of the Mandela Day activation, SASKO unveiled a special edition loaf made up of 1,000 slices – a symbolic gesture celebrating both the milestone and the late Nelson Mandela’s vision for a better South Africa.
The loaf was used to prepare sandwiches for the children of Ikaneng. The act of care extended to a local NGO that supports feeding initiatives for learners in the community, ensuring that the spirit of Mandela Day is not only celebrated, but lived out.
SASKO Siyasizana was launched in 2023, to address the stark inequalities in access to quality play resources at ECDs and schools. In many communities, children aged 5 to 9 have no formal and safe space to play.
According to the South African Early Childhood Review, more than 60% of young children in the country do not have access to safe, age-appropriate play facilities. — yet play is a cornerstone of healthy development.
“SASKO believes every child deserves the right to play, to be safe, and to feel like they matter,” says Vilosha Soni, Chief Marketing Officer at PepsiCo South Africa. “These playgrounds represent more than structures — they are symbols of dignity and hope.”
The SASKO Siyasizana programme is grounded in care. With an investment of over R10 million and supported by South Africans who nominated schools by purchasing SASKO bread, the programme has been able to reach areas that have long been overlooked. Schools from Limpopo to Khayelitsha, Soweto to Gqeberha, now boast colourful play zones designed for inclusivity, imagination, and joy.
The brand also extended gratitude to their trusted partner Buco, which has helped to bring a positive impact in schools through providing building material for the playground structures.
“As a brand deeply rooted in local communities, Buco understands that real impact happens when we create spaces that enable children to thrive,” says Lesego Moagi, Group Marketing Executive at Buco.
“We’ve seen how the absence of safe, functional infrastructure continues to hold learners back, particularly in the foundation years where care, safety, and stimulation matter most. Contributing to the Siyasizana playgrounds has been aligned with our broader commitment to supporting education as a driver of social and economic development.”
However, this is only the halfway point. SASKO’s long-term vision is clear: reach 5 million children by 2030, turning play into a right, not a privilege. The brand plans to continue fostering relationships with NGOs and government partners to build on this momentum and help scale impact where it’s needed most.
With growing support and communities leading the charge, SASKO Siyasizana continues to prove that sustained care builds more than loyalty. It builds futures.
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