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The Solidarity Fund would like to thank South Africa for the outpouring of generosity seen over the past week. The country’s response to the Fund’s call for unity in action has resulted in over R2 billion in donations pledged to the Fund, just two weeks since the President’s announcement. “From large corporates to medium sized businesses, South Africans have responded with enormous generosity, notwithstanding the troubled economy and its unsettling outlook. The Fund is particularly grateful to the more than 3000 individuals who have contributed amounts ranging from R1000 to R1000 000. We are heartened by what has been achieved in the two weeks since the Fund was announced. The willingness and speed with which our people have responded gives us hope for the challenging times that lie ahead,” commented Fund Chairperson, Gloria Serobe.

As announced this past Monday, monies received by the Fund have already been used for activities that will be critical to saving lives, including the purchase of 5 000 000 medical masks. By next week, these masks will arrive where they’re needed most to protect doctors, nurses, and community health workers on the front line. Future use of funds will focus on fast tracking and accelerating critical interventions in the following areas:
 

Health Response: direct support for the healthcare system, augmenting both the private and government healthcare sectors to ensure they have what they need, as well as enabling emergency supplies. To this effect the fund has this week made a funding decision and approved a R100m facility that will procure Personal Protective Equipment to augment the efforts in Public Healthcare.

Humanitarian Effort: Enabling resilience through augmenting the efforts of government and business to provide various forms of humanitarian aid and support to the most vulnerable households and communities to enhance their ability to cope – through sustaining access to food, care  and other interventions to alleviate potential income loss.

Solidarity Campaign: Mobilizing citizens in unified action to flatten the curve and manage the pandemic and its impacts on households and communities

The Fund continues to engage closely with the government, members of civil society and Business for South Africa and to be guided by the President’s imperatives to ensure the most impactful use of funds. In addition, the Fund is pleased to announce the finalisation of an independent Board that combines South Africans of high integrity, skills and experience and is reflective of the Fund’s social mobilisation mandate. The Board will comprise of:
 

- Ms. Gloria Serobe, Chairman of the Board

- Mr. Adrian Enthoven, Deputy Chairman of the Board

- Dr. Ayanda Ntsaluba, Chair Disbursements Committee

- Minister Ebrahim Patel

- Ms. Kgomotso Makhupola

- Mr. Michael Katz

- Ms. Nomkhita Nqweni

- Mr. Sizwe Nxasana, Chair Fundraising Committee

- Mr. Thulani Tshefutu

- Minister Tito Mboweni

- Ms. Tryphosa Ramano, Chair Audit and Risk Committee

The Fund is also pleased to announce that Nomkhita Nqweni, former Chief Executive of Absa Wealth Investment Management has been announced as the interim CEO of the Fund. Nomkhita has vast financial services experience, with a career spanning 24 years in the industry.

“We end the week filled with gratitude and awe; to all South Africans across every sphere of society for their generous donations in such a short space of time, you truly have mobilized in solidarity, and to the business leaders who have agreed to volunteer their time to ensure the most rigorous oversight of the use of South Africa’s donated monies. We feel this Board is the embodiment of robust governance and demonstrates not only strength across all stakeholders but the seriousness and importance we place on our collective role in the fight against Covid-19,” concluded Serobe.

Issued by Solidarity Fund