In an effort to support raising funds for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF), Ford Motor Company of South Africa has built an extraordinary Ford Ranger Wildtrak X with Nelson Mandela’s signature.
Built at Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, the limited-edition Wildtrak X is a strategic fundraising tool for the NMCF and pays homage to Nelson Mandela’s heritage.
The vehicle highlights Ford’s longstanding relationship with South Africa and Mandela by relating to Mandela’s first vehicle, a 1937 Ford V8.
According to Neale Hill, President of Ford Motor Company, Africa, “the symbolism of Madiba’s official signature reflects the spirit of the partnership between Ford and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.”
Ford has provided the NMCF with 19 vehicles in addition to the Wildtrak X, demonstrating its continued dedication to community development and child welfare in South Africa.
“As a company, we support generational impact, and like Madiba and the Fund, we value consistent work to guarantee long-lasting benefit. What a joy it is for us to have this autograph on one of our cars, and even more so that we can contribute to the advancement of South Africa,” Hill continued.
For more than a century, Ford has kept a production presence in South Africa, and its Silverton facility is an essential component of its global production network.
“Three decades after Madiba founded the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, our mission remains as urgent as ever,” said Dr. Linda Ncube-Nkomo, CEO of the NMCF, adding that partnerships like this demonstrate how the private sector can play a meaningful role in protecting children and strengthening communities.
According to Hill, “this is about honouring Madiba’s legacy by investing in the well-being of children. For more than a century, Ford has been part of South Africa’s story. We deeply believe businesses like ours have a responsibility to contribute meaningfully to the communities they serve.”
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah