MyJHB

Stuff from Johannesburg

Fuelling the Lions

Lions Cricket are delighted to announce the renewal of their partnership with Masana Petroleum Solutions for a minimum of a further three years, extending a highly successful relationship that has already fuelled the Pride’s growth and impact over the past three seasons.

United by shared values of safety, teamwork, achievement, respect, and service excellence, both organisations remain committed to delivering meaningful solutions while uplifting and empowering the communities they serve.

Lions Cricket CEO Jono Leaf-Wright highlighted the significance of the continued partnership, acknowledging the vital role Masana Petroleum Solutions plays in supporting the organisation’s operations and ambitions.

“Masana have been a driving force behind our journey for the past three years, and securing their support for at least another three years is both incredibly appreciated and deeply valued, particularly in a challenging economic environment.

The scale of the Lions ecosystem – from professional cricket and community programmes to match-day operations and the management of the DP World Wanderers Stadium – simply would not be possible without trusted partners like Masana.

Their reliable supply of fuel has helped power our growth into one of South Africa’s most loved sporting brands, enabling us to Dream Big and Be Big in everything we do.” As the official diesel supply partner to the iconic DP World Wanderers Stadium, Masana plays a vital role in keeping the stadium powered, ensuring uninterrupted energy supply that keeps the lights on and the cricket action alive for thousands of passionate fans.

But the partnership between Masana and the Lions extends far beyond fuelling match-day operations.

According to Morena Sithole, the renewed agreement reflects a deeper alignment of values and a shared commitment to community development.

“Our partnership with the Lions is built on more than commercial collaboration — it is rooted in a shared purpose to create meaningful impact in the communities we serve.

Together, we are investing in opportunities that empower people, particularly through education and youth development, both on and off the field.” This shared vision has already translated into several impactful community upliftment initiatives.

Most notably, Masana and Lions Cricket recently supported the upgrade of the Johannesburg School for Autism, equipping classrooms with desktop computers and interactive smart boards to enhance the learning experience for learners with special needs.

In addition, the partnership has enabled initiatives focused on providing deserving school learners with essential school shoes, bags and uniforms — helping to remove barriers to education and creating opportunities for young people to thrive.

“This partnership is underscored by far more than the donations made; it represents a shared investment in uplifting the communities we serve and creating lasting change for future generations,” added Mr Sithole.

Through this renewed partnership, Masana and the DP World Lions continue to demonstrate how sport and business can work together as powerful catalysts for positive social impact.

From the fields of play to the communities in which Lions Cricket serves, Masana’s partnership has provided the energy behind countless successes, learnings and growth.

The Pride is excited and enthusiastic, not only when reviewing the journey to date, but also when looking at the opportunities that lie in wait as the partnership continues to build on a brighter future together.

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The Geological Miracle of the Witwatersrand

The very existence of Johannesburg is a geological fluke. Unlike most major global cities, Johannesburg was not built near a river, a coast, or a natural harbor. It sits 1,753 meters above sea level on a rocky ridge called the Witwatersrand (Ridge of White Waters). This ridge is the edge of the world’s largest known gold deposit, formed over 2 billion years ago when an ancient inland sea began to evaporate, leaving behind layers of gold-bearing conglomerate.

When George Harrison, an Australian prospector, stumbled upon an outcrop of gold on the farm Langlaagte in 1886, he triggered a “gold rush” that changed the course of African history. Within a decade, a dusty collection of tents and wagons transformed into a permanent city of brick and mortar. The “Main Reef” proved so vast that it eventually produced nearly 40% of all the gold ever mined in human history. This geological wealth dictated the city’s layout: the mining belt runs east-to-west across the city’s center, creating a physical divide between the wealthy northern suburbs and the industrial, working-class south. Today, while most mines within the city limits have closed due to the extreme depth and cost of extraction (some mines reached over 3.9 kilometers underground), the physical legacy remains in the form of “mine dumps”—massive yellow-white hills of crushed rock and sand that define the Joburg skyline.