Daimler Truck Southern Africa hands over R250 000 to The Chris Burger and Petro Jackson Players’ Fund.

Daimler Truck Southern Africa hands over R250 000 to The ChriS Burger and Petro Jackson Players’ Fund.

Through its charity golf day, Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA) helped raise funds for the Chris Burger and Petro Jackson (CBPJ) Players’ Fund, which supports rugby players whose lives are transformed by critical head, neck, or spinal injuries.
DTSA’s support for the CBPJ Players’ Fund aligns with the global Daimler Truck Cares pillar of ‘Health and Safety,’ recognising the vital role the Players’ Fund plays in assisting seriously injured rugby players - from school level through to the professional game.
Aligned in purpose and values, DTSA and the CBPJ Players’ Fund share a sustainability‑focused, long‑view commitment to keeping South Africa and its people moving.

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐀, 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀 – Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA) hosted their inaugural dealer and customer golf day at the end of 2025. To deepen the purpose of the event, a charitable initiative formed an integral part of the programme. Dealers and customers were given the opportunity to donate towards the good cause of the CBPJ Players’ Fund. On 04 March 2026, R250 000 raised at the event was officially handed over to Annie Dobson, CEO of the CBPJ Player’s Fund and Jannie Louw, representing the Players’ Fund’s recipients. This donation is made in alignment with Daimler Truck’s global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, Daimler Truck Cares. Under the Daimler Truck Cares programme, four strategic pillars defines the company’s CSR focus: “Health and Traffic Safety”, “Environment”, “Education” and “Disaster Relief”.

Rugby is deeply woven into South African culture, uniting communities and inspiring national pride across generations. Its deep roots in schools, sports clubs and provincial structures make it a powerful force for development, belonging and opportunity. Yet, alongside its impact, the sport carries the risk of serious head, neck or spinal injuries, which can affect players at school‑level and professional play. These catastrophic injuries, though relatively rare, have profound and long‑term consequences for affected players and their families, which is why organisations like the Chris Burger and Petro Jackson Players’ Fund exist, providing support to those whose lives are altered in an instant by such incidents.

The CBPJ Players’ Fund was established in 1980 following the tragic death of Western Province fullback Chris Burger, who sustained a fatal neck injury during a Currie Cup match, prompting his teammates, led by Morné du Plessis, to establish a support fund in his honour. A second tragedy in 1987, when young wing Petro Jackson died after a catastrophic on‑field injury, led to the creation of a similar fund in his name, and in 1992 the two funds were unified following rugby’s national unification. Today, the Players’ Fund — widely known as Rugby’s Caring Hands — stands as South Africa’s official support organisation for seriously injured rugby players, offering lifelong assistance, equipment, mobility solutions, and care to those who sustain catastrophic head, neck, or spinal injuries while playing the game.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire team at the CBPJ Players’ Fund, we extend our deepest gratitude to DTSA for your incredible contribution toward our cause. A donation of this magnitude is more than just a financial gift; it is a powerful commitment to the lifelong care and support that our recipients require. It is through the support of industry leaders like DTSA that we are able to turn "hope" into a tangible reality for those we serve. DTSA’s commitment to diversity and transformation aligns strongly with our values of fairness, compassion, and equal access to lifelong care, where true transformation is seen in restored independence, renewed dignity, and the ability for each recipient to live meaningfully after life-changing injuries. Just as DTSA leads with a long‑view approach grounded in sustainability, so too does it mirror our own lifelong promise to stand by our recipients for as long as they need us — without compromise.
We are honoured to have DTSA standing with us and look forward to our continued partnership as we work together to make a lasting difference.” Annie Dobson, CEO of the CBPJ Players’ Fund.

Maretha Gerber, President and Group CEO concludes: “At Daimler Truck Southern Africa, our purpose is clear: “For all who keep Africa moving.” While our trucks and buses drive progress across the continent, the CBPJ Players’ Fund’s unwavering commitment to helping rugby players rebuild their lives after life‑altering injuries reflects the very essence of what we stand for — keeping people moving, even when their journeys take unexpected and challenging turns. CBJP Players’ Fund’s work ensures that injured players can continue to move forward in their daily
lives, restoring dignity, independence and hope. The Fund’s lifelong dedication to its recipients resonates deeply with our own commitment to long‑term impact, transformation and service. DTSA is proud to support an organisation that embodies such exceptional care, resilience and humanity, and whose mission aligns so naturally with our own.”

𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐬.

Media enquiries:
Jacqueline Fourie
Cell: 0796957485
e-mail: jacqueline.fourie@daimlertruck.com

Daimler Truck Southern Africa Group of Companies at a glance:
Since the invention of the truck over 125 years ago, Daimler Truck AG has been a pioneer in the commercial vehicle sector and is today one of the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers. Established in South Africa over 60 years ago, Daimler Truck Southern Africa Ltd together with its subsidiaries Daimler Truck Financial Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd and Sandown Motor Holdings (Pty) Ltd provides an optimal experience for our esteemed customers based on a comprehensive products and services portfolio. The Group’s success is based on its leading brands inclusive of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Mercedes-Benz Buses, FUSO Trucks in addition to offering parts and services for Freightliner and Western Star Trucks. Its product range is backed by its market leading value-added services in Fleetboard, TruckStore, TruckTraining, and Financial Services. With a Southern African footprint that includes South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, the company is headquartered in Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa, and all its products are assembled locally in its East London production plant.