The Motsepe Foundation, its partners and associated organisations pledged R1 billion to support the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.
According to reports, the family announced the donation on Saturday via a Zoom Press briefing. Motsepe said a few hundred million will be made available immediately.
The companies involved are the Motsepe Foundation, Sanlam, African Rainbow Capital, African Rainbow Minerals and a few others.
Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe said in a media statement that the money would be spent on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), sanitisers, disinfectants and whatever other materials and resources the Government might need in this time.
They will provide poor rural and urban communities with water by buying water tanks (jojos), drilling and equipping communities for borehole water. Their plan also involves building sanitary facilities.
As part of their short to medium term interventions, they will build additional classrooms, computer centers, and laboratories in all the provinces to help some schools with overpopulated classroom.
“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,” the briefing read.
They will also offer schools who are in need with internet access or facilities that will assist with study guides, scientific calculators, dictionaries and other educational equipment.
“South Africans have a history of uniting and working together when confronted with major and enormous challenges. We are confident that South Africa will in the medium to long term overcome the life-threatening and economic challenges caused by the Coronavirus pandemic and continue to build a bright and inclusive future for the people of South Africa and the African continent.”
