By Staff Reporter

A unique Ford Ranger Wildtrak X carrying Nelson Mandela’s signature has been donated to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, where it will be used to raise money for various child-focused initiatives across South Africa.

The bakkie is a one-off. It is the first Ford vehicle, and the first bakkie globally, to feature an authorised version of Madiba’s signature. The signature has been stitched into the interior, giving the vehicle added significance beyond its standard specification.

Built at Ford’s Silverton plant in Pretoria, the Ranger will form part of efforts to support the Fund’s programmes around child safety, protection and community support. Proceeds generated from the vehicle will go towards these initiatives.

The project also highlights the ongoing relationship between Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. In recent years, Ford has supported the organisation’s Child Safety and Protection Programme, including the donation of vehicles to assist teams working on the ground.

While the Ranger itself stands out as a collector’s piece, the focus remains on what it will help achieve. The funds raised are expected to contribute to programmes aimed at improving the wellbeing and safety of children in vulnerable communities.

The vehicle also reflects Ford’s continued local involvement. The Silverton plant, where the Ranger was built, plays a key role in both domestic production and exports, supplying markets locally and abroad.

More details on how the vehicle will be used to raise funds are expected to be shared by the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund in due course.