Nissan has been a long-standing supporter of the Charity Cheetah Karting Day organisation, which raises funds for the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre.
The 10th annual karting day took place at the Zwartkops Karting Circuit on October 21st, and the Nissan-sponsored event raised over R80,000 for cheetah conservation – reaching a new goal in comparison to previous years.
The Nissan Charity Cheetah Karting Day pits local automotive organisations against each other in a fierce battle on the raceway. Three Nissan South African teams were joined by nine other teams, including Liqui-Moly SA and Motul Oil to compete for top honours.
“Nissan is a global citizen and we pride ourselves on our South African heritage,” said Kabelo Rabotho, Nissan SA Marketing Director. “The preservation of wildlife, and the natural beauty we are privileged to see each day, is critical to the growth of the country and continent. It attracts foreign investment and is a large contributor to tourism. We therefore place a great deal of importance behind the work we do with the Charity Cheetah Karting Day organisation.”
Rabotho continued by noting that the role of the private sector in supporting initiatives such as this conservation project is critical, highlighting that it is the responsibility of each organisation to become active citizens and leaving a legacy that benefits the country. He further commented that Nissan has a robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy in place that touches on innovation, sustainability and education.
The money raised on Sunday’s event will be used for various projects, which includes the educational programme known as CHEETA, which involves the centre spending time in schools, particularly in rural and under-privileged areas to raise awareness about the importance of wildlife, the environment and recycling.
Accomplished V8 racer, Clare Vale, whose racing team participated in the event, said: “We’ve been supporting the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre for 10 years because, as a racing team, we feel it’s important to give back.”
Nikki Stagg from the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre and the centre’s cheetah ambassador, Yeats, concluded, “Nissan has been tremendously supportive over the years and they have extended their support to helping the centre more holistically. We have been additionally privileged to have the support of all our partners, including Rodger McCleery, a well-known radio-personality
Provided by Nissan SA
