Motsepe family, partners pledge R1bn in fight against coronavirus in SA

Patrice Motsepe, founder and chairman of the Motsepe Foundation. Photo by Monika Flueckiger, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

“Several hundred million rands will immediately be made available with the primary objective of saving lives and slowing and restraining the spread of the coronavirus. We are purchasing sanitisers, disinfectants, personal protective equipment (PPE) and are in discussions with government, health workers and other stakeholders to assist with acquiring other equipment and making resources available which are essential for dealing with the coronavirus pandemic," says founder and chairman of the Motsepe Foundation Dr Patrice Motsepe.

"We’ve been advised that access to water for regularly washing hands is crucial for slowing and limiting the spread of the coronavirus. We are therefore providing water to poor rural and urban communities by purchasing water tanks, drilling and equipping for borehole water and also building sanitary facilities."

The group will, among others, be working in partnership with:

• Traditional leaders, kings, queens and their communities;
  
• Religious and faith-based organisations;
  
• National, provincial and local government authorities;
  
• Trade union and other worker representative organisations;
  
• NGOs and other local community representative organisations;
  
• Sport organisations and entities;
  
• Local, provincial and national business and professional organisations;
  
• Farmers and their representative organisations.

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"Poor and underdeveloped communities are ill-prepared to deal with the serious challenges and consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and are in dire need of our assistance and contributions. We are committed to contribute to the provision of quality education, infrastructure and other facilities to better prepare and equip them to deal with future pandemics or catastrophes,” said Motsepe.