In addition, the Chinese enterprises have provided testing reagents to South Africa. Chinese Ambassador to South Africa, Lin Songtian, said his government will provide 5,000 additional testing reagents to South Africa. 

In a statement issued by the embassy of China in South Africa on Sunday, the donation, which also included Covid-19 testing kits, and the cheque were received by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize in Pretoria. 

“Out of the millions of foreigners in China, only 29 have been infected, and only two have died. Only one of the more than 80,000 African students in China was infected and now has been discharged from hospital. There are no confirmed cases among the 3,000 South African students and other South African citizens in China,” said Lin. 

He emphasised that South Africa and other African countries have no confirmed cases of Covid-19 imported from China. 

“The health and safety of foreign citizens in China have been effectively safeguarded,” said the Chinese top diplomat. 

He said the donation was a gesture of goodwill to the South African people and entities which made numerous donations in finance and in kind when China was at the peak of Covid-19 infections. 

“We will never forget the understanding and support our South African friends from all walks of life gave to China, especially the generous donations made by South African enterprises to firmly support China in its fight against the epidemic,” said Lin. 

“As a good friend, good partner and good brother of South Africa, the Chinese government and people have provided and will continue to provide assistance to South Africa to the best of our capacity, and share our anti-epidemic experience, so as to resolutely support South Africa in defeating the epidemic.”

Several dignitaries included African Nation Congress secretary-general Ace Magashule, president of the South Africa-China Economic and Trade Association Wang Wen’an, CEO of Huawei South Africa Fan Wen, chairman of the South Africa Chinese Community and Police Forum Li Xinzhu, and chairman of All Africa Association for Peaceful Reunification of China Xu Changbin.

Of the R3 million donated, R1 million was donated by Chinese mobile giant Huawei.

President Cyril Ramaphosa was on Sunday meeting business leaders at the Union Buildings in Pretoria as the South African economy takes strain amidst a global Covid-19 pandemic. 

"The engagement with business forms part of a series of meetings the president has held with various stakeholder constituencies – including communities of faith and the nation’s political leadership - in the week since his declaration on 15 March 2020 of the national state of disaster,” the Presidency said in a statement. 

African News Agency