The Motsepe Foundation and associated companies have pledged R1 billion towards the fight against the “invisible enemy”, the Coronavirus.
Patrice Motsepe, the founder and chairperson of the Motsepe Foundation, said poor communities would be the primary target of the pledge as they were the most ill-prepared.
The mining magnate said the money would be spent on sanitisers, personal protective equipment, water tankers, drilling activities for boreholes, assisting university students, providing internet infrastructure and building classrooms, among other things.
“Poor communities are ill-prepared to deal with the threat and the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and various diseases that confront society. It is the poor that will be the primary focus of the partnership,” said Motsepe.
“It is important that we come together. It is important that we send a message to the poor and the marginalised, to say we will always be there."
Other businessmen have also donated. Motsepe's pledge follows the R1bn each from the Oppenheimers and Ruperts - two of SA’s wealthiest families - towards helping small businesses.