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A RANGE of bangles bearing former president Nelson Mandela’s prison number will create jobs and contribute to the fight against HIV and Aids, said a Johannesburg businessman.

“A totally South African initiative to manufacture and distribute high quality platinum, gold and silver 46664 wrist bangles is set to take the world by storm, providing ongoing jobs...while making a significant contribution to the 46664 campaign to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic,” Robert Coutts said in a statement issued on Friday. The bangles were unveiled at the Nelson Mandela Square in Johannesburg recently.

They were already being produced at three Gauteng locations while they had been officially launched at the 46664 concert held to celebrate Mandela’s 90 birthday at Hyde Park in London. According to the businessman Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO Achmat Dangor welcomed this, saying that while only 45 artisans and workers would benefit from the initiative, it would raise revenue for the 46664 campaign. Revenue made from the bangles was to be placed back into the foundation’s 46664 HIV/Aids prevention programme.

“I realised that I had to find a business model that would turn corporate social responsibility into action and also provide a way for people to help themselves,” said Coutts, who came up with the idea for the bangles. Jewellers American Swiss and Stern were selling the silver bangles; Montblanc the gold and platinum ones. About 8000 of the bangles had already been sold worldwide. In commemoration of Mandela’s 90th birthday on July 18, a limited number of bangles were being made, including 90 platinum and 24-carat gold versions. Source: SAPA

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