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| JOHANNESBURG – February 26, 2016 – As part of its ongoing pledge to “green” the more rural areas of South Africa, Konica Minolta South Africa, a division of Bidvest Office (Pty) Ltd, most recently brought shade and fruit to areas in need within the Mpumalanga province. The company teamed up with CSI partners, Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) and the Good Work Foundation (GWF), to plant a mix of 50 food and shade trees – including a mango orchard – at the GWF’s newest learning campus, the Justicia Digital Learning Campus (JDLC). Located on the border of the Kruger National Park and the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, JDLC is quite possibly South Africa’s most rural digital campus, according to GWF CEO, Kate Groch. “The planting is one part of a number of joint conservation initiatives driven by Konica Minolta South Africa and GWF,” she explained, “which include digital conservation literacy, fieldtrips into the Kruger National Park and an adult wildlife monitoring short course.” Konica Minolta South Africa’s Nelspruit branch manager, Gerhard van Tonder, also got his hands dirty, but this time at Nelspruit Primary School, where he helped learners, teachers and the FTFA team to plant 24 trees. “As a company, Konica Minolta South Africa is very aware of our effect on the environment, and we do everything possible to make sure that we play our role in protecting the earth from further climate change. Not only are the products that we sell focused on reducing CO2 emissions, but we also promote recycling and the restoration and preservation of biodiversity,” he informed the school’s students. “In addition to this, Konica Minolta South Africa also focuses very strongly on socially-based initiatives, to help the communities around us and enrich their lives in some way. This year’s tree planting will see 1,861 trees being planted across South Africa, with 319 to be planted in Nelspruit alone.” Through its partnership with FTFA, Konica Minolta South Africa has been able to plant 27,641 trees since 2008. ABOUT KONICA MINOLTA SOUTH AFRICA: Recently named as international Konica Minolta Distributor of the Year for the ninth time, Konica Minolta South Africa is a leader in advanced document management technologies. A division of Bidvest Office (Pty) Ltd, the company focuses on complete business solutions, including production print systems, digital presses, multifunctional products (MFPs), managed print services, vertical application solutions and related services and supplies. The company has also achieved carbon-neutral status for the second year in a row, making it one of the first corporate companies in South Africa to offset its direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. CONTACTS: Konica Minolta South Africa, a division of Bidvest Office (Pty) Ltd: Ritchi Smith, 0800 bizhub, ritchis@kmsa.com icomm: Debbie Sielemann, +27 (0) 82 414 4633, debbie@pr.co.za, www.icomm-pr.co.za |