Siki Motshwari Johaness
12 March 2008
Masunga — Small though it may be, Barclays Bank Masunga is already making its presence felt in Masunga and peripheral villages.
Perhaps not much was expected soon from the porta cabin-based bank, established only nine months ago with a staff of nine. What Masunga Barclays is doing is the classical case of being small in size but big in service.
Last Saturday, the bank proved to be a worthy addition to Masunga village when it forked out P5,000- to sponsor a talent show that featured the students of Masunga Senior Secondary School. The event, held last Saturday at Masunga stadium, afforded the students a rare opportunity to explore and nurture their God-given talents in a wide spectrum of fields.
There was poetry, drama, traditional dance, kwasakwasa and kwaito. To spice the show, Barclays had roped in a local music group known as Kwaito Weapons of Mantshwabise fame to serve as a crowd puller.
Small wonder the show became a resounding success with about 800 students in attendance. Only a couple of villagers attended, which disappointed the sponsor.
The students welcomed the opportunity to perform.
Some of the performances looked like those of real professionals. There was every indication that a lot of work was put into preparation.
Mothusi and Tsotsi who did a kwaito song scooped the first prize and walked away with P150.00 and the second prize of P100 went to Oteng Sibanda for her wonderful lip-synching.
Nametso Mchumaeli from Barclays customer service said: "We exist to render a service to the community and we take pride in making a difference in the lives of people, especially the underprivileged".
Mchameli who is also the 'Community Champion' explained that the proceeds of the show would be donated to Masunga Senior Secondary School to cater for the needy students.
"We are aware that government has a social safety net for the needy but it is our social responsibility as the bank to complement the efforts of the government," she added with a sense of satisfaction.
In a bid to kill two birds with one stone, the bank coupled community service with marketing some of its products.
Some of the products on display were Barclay loan, Barclay card and home loan. However, Tidimalo Nsala of marketing department said that there is nothing wrong in targeting the students because the Bank was thinking ahead since the students are potential customers.
Last year in October, the bank gave a facelift to a two-roomed house belonging to a needy person who lives with three orphaned grand children.
The face lifting exercise involved plastering, painting, erecting a perimeter fence and stand pipe.
The bank made a monetary contribution to a Zwenshambe pre-school day care centre.
As if that was not enough, the bank stepped up its philanthropic deeds in December 2007 when it threw a Christmas party for the orphans in Masunga.
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