Charles Molele
DA’s federal executive on Wednesday donated R1.5 million to the Solidarity Fund, in an attempt to assist small businesses in distress due to the coronavirus outbreak.
DA spokesperson Solly Malatsi said the financial contribution was drawn from the salaries of the party’s public representatives.
“In addition we will be distributing sanitizers worth R200 000 to essential workers who are at the forefront of keeping the economy functional and saving lives during this difficult time,” he said.
“Notwithstanding this overall contribution, DA public representatives are at liberty to make any additional financial contributions to the Solidarity Fund as individuals if they wish to do so. The DA recognises that it is important for all role players in society to play our part to act in the best interests of the country during this time.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa established the Solidarity Fund on March 23, with R150 million in seed capital from the state to support poor, food-insecure and vulnerable South Africans.
Since its establishment, South African companies and several high net-worth individuals have made donations to the Fund, including senior public representatives.
Ramaphosa and the Deputy President David Mabuza, as well as their ministers and deputy ministers, have also taken one-third cut in their salaries for the next three months.
This portion of their salaries will be donated to the Solidarity Fund.
Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters was the first political party in South Africa to announce that all its public representatives will donate a third of their salaries to the Solidarity Fund for three months.
The governing party African National Congress is yet to make an announcement about its donations to the Fund.
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange also announced that it was donating its fees that are derived across all asset classes traded from Wednesday the 15th of April and Thursday the 16th of April as part of its campaign to support the Solidarity Fund.
