AngloGold Ashanti is committed to working with government at all levels and a range of other stakeholders in supporting South Africa’s fight to slow the spread of COVID-19. We are working across several fronts to support healthcare providers, bolster community health and hygiene responses, and to provide relief to the most vulnerable in society.
South African Private Sector Response to Covid-19
Distell to Supply Sanitisers to Vulnerable Communities
Distell, Africa’s leading producer and marketer of spirits, fine wines, ciders and ready-to-drinks (RTDs), today announced that it will begin producing hand sanitisers and other hygienic products at its production facilities as part of its efforts to help curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Old Mutual To Pledge R50 Million towards Covid-19 response
Old Mutual Limited today announced that it would be pledging R50-million toward a comprehensive COVID-19 response, in partnership with government, business, labour and civil society. This relief package would primarily be channelled towards educational initiatives that address both immediate and emerging needs across the sector, brought about by the impact of COVID-19.
Free COVID-19 Online Doctor Consultations available to all South Africans through Vodacom and Discovery partnership
As South Africa continues to closely monitor the incidence of COVID-19, this virtual healthcare platform will work alongside other initiatives to give all South Africans free access to reliable information, risk screening and, when necessary, free online medical consultations.
Nedbank has committed to helping alleviate hunger and provide emergency relief to the most vulnerable South African communities during the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic
Nedbank has committed to helping alleviate hunger and provide emergency relief to the most vulnerable South African communities during the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic that has gripped the country and the world at large.
MTN has implemented several proactive and innovative measures to minimise disruptions for communities, businesses, schoolchildren and families across South Africa.
MTN has amplified its monitoring of critical infrastructure to ensure the maximum network availability for all our customers. This is also helping ensure MTN provides enough capacity to accommodate the increased work-from-home traffic.
Transnet avails its Facilities as Quarantine Sites during Lockdown
As part of its efforts to contain and minimise the spread of COVID-19, Transnet SOC Ltd has designated properties across three provinces to be used as quarantine sites and shelters for the homeless during the 21-day lockdown period. Transnet in partnership with the local governments in the provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State will support the efforts to implement the national lockdown across the country.
Anglo American is implementing all appropriate measures across its South African operations, with a focus on de-densification of the workforce, rigorous health screening, and isolation where needed.
Anglo American notes the statement made by the President of the Republic of South Africa on 23 March in relation to a 21-day nationwide lockdown that took effect at midnight on Thursday 26 March, in order to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in South Africa.
SASOL RESPONDS TO INCREASED DEMAND FOR ALCOHOLS USED IN SANITISERS AND DISINFECTANTS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Sasol has partnered with government to help combat the spread of COVID-19 in South Africa. As a producer and bulk supplier of a variety of specialty chemicals, Sasol has developed a new unique blend of alcohol-based chemicals to be used in manufacturing of hand sanitisers to help address the increase in market demand for these products.
First Establishes R100m Pandemic Intervention Relief Effort
The financial services group said that SPIRE is working closely with the Solidarity Response Fund and other industry and sector initiatives. FirstRand said it has allocated an anchor investment of R100 million to SPIRE, funded by the FirstRand Foundations, FNB and RMB.
SASOL FOUNDATION OFFERS FREE ONLINE PRIMARY AND HIGH SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS AND RESOURCES DURING LOCKDOWN
The Sasol Foundation has opened its online education resources and textbooks platform to all learners and parents free of charge as South Africa embarks on a 21-day National Lockdown in response to the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Woolworths and MySchool announce R500 000 donation for Covid-19 fight
Woolworths and the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet community loyalty programme have made a R500 000 donation to the Gift of the Givers Foundation to support frontline medical workers through the provision of protective wear and equipment.
Tracking & Tracing - the next frontier in the fight against COVID-19
The Telkom team has been working with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to develop a novel track and trace solution to identify people who may have contracted COVID-19.
FNB will implement measures to provide relief to individual and business customers whose financial stability has been impacted by COVID-19.
In recent weeks, the South African Government, business community, philanthropists and society at large have shown remarkable unity in a joint effort to protect our country against the impact of COVID-19.
Absa launches extensive COVID-19 payment relief plan
As South Africa and the world confront the public health, financial and economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, Absa Group is rolling out an extensive relief plan for eligible customers impacted by COVID-19.
Standard Bank has announced interim debt repayment measures to help segments of its customer base to navigate their financial commitments as Covid-19 cases continue to increase across the country.
The payment relief for the bank’s small enterprise customers with turnover of less than R20 million, will commence on 1 April 2020 and run through to end June 2020. Standard Bank will set up automatic new payment terms for these small business owners. This measure will not only assist our small business clients with managing their cash flows, but also allow them to honour payments to their own employee base.
Royal Bafokeng Platinum will be placing its operations under care and maintenance, with only essential services in place
As RBPlat, we offer our full support of the President’s decision for a lockdown, as despite initial efforts for containment and awareness, the numbers in South Africa have been rapidly increasing. We will therefore be placing our operations under care and maintenance, with only essential services in place. For the past few weeks, we have been working closely with the Department of Mineral Resources and the Minerals Council South Africa, to minimize the impact of the pandemic on our employees and the industry as a whole.
MultiChoice Group Supports Local Entertainment Industry During Covid-19
Given MultiChoice Group’s position in Africa’s video entertainment sector, the group is acutely aware of the challenges their partners in the industry are facing. At this time MultiChoice will be standing by them. Across the continent business and industry is experiencing disruptions and delays. In South Africa, production has come to a complete halt as the industry adheres to the national lockdown. For many years MultiChoice has been a leader in the sector and are a leading investor in local content production.
Sappi donates essential items and products for COVID-19 relief
In an effort to provide some relief during the COVID-19 Coronavirus global pandemic, Sappi Southern Africa has made available several donations of scarce items such as; hand sanitiser, face masks, nutritional porridge and paper products, to reduce pressure on the National Government’s resources as well as to support the most vulnerable during these extraordinary times.
Pick n Pay has created a “Feed the Nation” Covid-19 relief fund
Pick n Pay has created a “Feed the Nation” Covid-19 relief fund to provide food and hygiene products to vulnerable South Africans during the lockdown. The retailer – along with the famed Ackerman family – has seeded the fund with an initial R5 million. Pick n Pay CEO Richard Brasher and other top execs have donated half their monthly salaries to the campaign – they are imploring others to follow suit.
Investec's response to the Covid-19 crisis
Investec has always maintained that we live in society, not off it. We are therefore determined to mount an urgent and constructive response to the Covid-19 crisis, making use of our own resources and our well-established network of partners and beneficiaries.
Massmart Board & Executive Committee Will Personally Contribute 230 Tons Of Food To FoodForward SA Over Next 3 Months
Heeding President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for greater private sector support in the fight against Covid-19, the Massmart Board and Executive Committee will personally fund, through a waiver of a portion of their monthly remuneration, 230 tons of food for distribution to vulnerable communities. This personal contribution will be made to FoodForward South Africa via deliveries of 77 tons of food per month, for three months starting in April.
SAB recycles beer crates to make face shields
The South African Breweries (SAB) is donating 100,000 face shields, made from recycled beer crates, to the Gauteng Health Department, which recently announced its urgent need for personal protection equipment (PPE) for frontline health workers who are integral to the global response to Covid-19. Like most businesses, the last few weeks has meant a drastic change in operations for the brewer, which has adapted the manufacturing element of its business to assist in providing critical items to all those in need in the fight against the virus.
Naspers delivers personal protective equipment for healthcare workers
Naspers announced the arrival of a major shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE) consisting of almost 3,5 million KN95 face masks and 2,7 million 3-ply surgical masks to support healthcare workers across South Africa. The company has arranged a further delivery scheduled to arrive on 2 May bringing its PPE relief aid to more than 13 million PPE units since the company made its R 1.5 billion commitment in emergency aid to the country.
Pepkor donates over R2m towards Covid-19 relief
South African retailer Pepkor is supporting the fight against Covid-19 through a number of initiatives, including donating a portion of senior leadership’s salaries to relief efforts and having its clothing manufacturing division produce face masks and surgical gowns. Pepkor, which owns Pep, Ackermans, Tekkie Town and John Craig, has the largest retail store footprint in southern Africa with more than 5,400 stores operating across 11 African countries.
Responding to the President’s Economic and Social Package
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of an economic and social package aimed at giving relief to those affected by the COVID19 induced national lockdown is a significant and powerful step forward for our country. We welcome the President’s strong focus on measures which address food insecurity. We strongly feel that the efforts to create access to food for those who need it most is where we can have a meaningful impact – especially considering the connection between nutrition and its ability to fight illness.
Vodacom helps to flatten the COVID-19 curve through technological innovation
Regardless of race, culture or status, people around the world are suffering in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hardships range from the most debilitating – such as hunger and homelessness – to crippling psychological effects such as fear, loneliness and anxiety. Despite this new reality, all around us we see the very best of humanity coming to the fore. From simple acts of neighbourly kindness to extraordinary corporate and health innovations; in societies across the world we are witnessing more care than indifference, more steadfastness than despair.
L’Oréal South Africa produces hand sanitisers to fight the spread of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have widespread impact on the world with an alarming increase in infections, daily. In support of the fight against the virus, L’Oréal South Africa will be producing hand sanitisers under its natural beauty brand Garnier. The Group’s local factory in Midrand, Johannesburg will be starting production to support the needs of local health facilities, communities and retailers.
Siemens donates R500, 000 towards fight against COVID-19 in South Africa
In a bid to help alleviate the impact of COVID-19 in South Africa, the Southern and Eastern African division of the multinational conglomerate, Siemens, has donated R500, 000 to the Solidarity Response Fund. In addition, the company has partnered with Legae Larona, a fully black, female-owned enterprise based in Alexandra township, to manufacture and distribute 20, 000 face masks to communities in need.
SAPREF EMPOWERS CLINICS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19
With the shortage of masks and other healthcare personal protective equipment (PPE), SAPREF heeded the call for corporates to donate their healthcare stock to the healthcare sector. A total of 4000 FFP2 masks and 100 goggles were donated to The Bluff and Isipingo Clinics. These clinics serve communities on fence line of the refinery.
Engen fuel retailers bring hope and relief to Diepsloot community with basic supplies
As a company that cares deeply about the communities in which it operates, Engen fuel retailers from Gauteng brought some hope and relief to the people of Diepsloot by distributing 1 000 food hampers and basic supplies, including blankets, on Friday, 17 April.
SAB TAKES A HANDS-ON APPROACH TO ASSIST WITH SANITISER PRODUCTION
With the South African government putting in every effort to protect the nation against COVID-19, now more than ever it’s time for the private sector to step up and help flatten the curve in the fight against this pandemic. The demand for alcohol-based sanitiser has continued to sky-rocket in the face of this pandemic. The South African Breweries (SAB) has adapted its operations to address the shortage of hand sanitiser.
BMW SA has donated 40 000 high-grade face masks to Gauteng Department of Health
BMW Group South Africa’s contribution to the fight against the spread of the coronavirus and Covid-19 continues this week. As the country takes steps to address the crisis, BMW Group South Africa is stepping up to help the cause.
Johannesburg Stock Exchange announces relief measures for market participants
The relief measures will be offered to businesses that are affected by the pandemic and in financial distress. The JSE will grant distressed companies extended payment terms of between three and six months, with no interest charged. The JSE will engage with companies and review requests on a case-by-case basis. “The JSE is extending a helping hand to our valued clients and suppliers that are affected by the pandemic. We value our relationships with our market partners and we will endeavour to play our part in making sure they remain sustainable” says JSE Group CEO Leila Fourie.
ITHUBA donates Personal Protective Equipment to the Department of Health
The National Lottery operator, ITHUBA handed over 100 000 re-usable face masks to the Department of Health as part of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) donation to essential workers. The handover took place at the ITHUBA office in Sandton. In attendance, were the Honourable Ministers of Health and the South African Police Service, Dr Zweli Mkhize and Bheki Cele, Deputy Minister of Health Dr Joseph Phaahla and representatives from other corporates who were also handing over PPE donations to the Department of Health.
Nestlé Announces Donations Towards COVID-19 Relief Efforts Across East and Southern Africa
“People are at the heart of our Nestlé business. We are working hard to keep our employees, customers and the communities where we operate safe,” stated Bruno Olierhoek, Chairman and Managing Director of Nestlé, East and Southern Africa Region today, as he announced the company’s contribution to various Coronavirus (COVID-19) relief efforts across the region.
