South Africa now has a Covid-19 solidarity fund, to help deal with the fallout of the novel coronavirus, and measures to slow its spread, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Monday night.
The government has seeded it with a R150 million donation.
It is not yet clear clear exactly how it will spend its money – but you can already contribute.
Contributions will be tax-deductible.
South Africa now has a solidarity fund that will try to ameliorate the impact of the novel coronavirus, and the measures put in place to slow its spread, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Monday.
The Solidarity Response Fund will support what the public sector is doing, Ramaphosa said, without providing details of its spending priorities or how funds will be accessed.
“The fund will focus efforts to combat the spread of the virus, help us to track the spread, care for those who are ill and support those whose lives are disrupted,” he said.
The government has seeded the fund with a R150 million donation.
“Across our country people and organisations have offered to help and the Solidarity Response Fund is a vehicle that will be set up to facilitate this,” according to the fund’s website.
Both Ramaphosa and the fund stressed that it will be well managed and accountable, with tight administration of money and donations.
Here are the donation details for South Africa’s Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
Bank: Standard Bank
Branch name: Sandton City
Branch code: 051001
Account name: Solidarity Fund
Account number: 023070021
Account type: Current account
The fund will operate a call centre for donors, between 8AM and 6PM, on 0860 001 001 and can be emailed on info@responsefund.co.za.
Donations will be tax deductible, the fund said.
Registration is now also open for small and medium-sized businesses to ask for government help during the coronavirus disaster.
(Compiled by Phillip de Wet)