“I have committed to support the courageous, dedicated, and selfless frontline health workers through the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE). To this end, I will contribute one-third of my salary for three months in the Solidary Fund,” Mabizela said on Sunday. 

“Covid-19 is the greatest health challenge in living memory. The heroism, bravery, and selfless service of frontline health workers who expose their lives and those of their loved ones to great risk to save others must be applauded. They place their vocation and care for others ahead of their personal health risks.” 

He said the frontline healthcare workers risking their lives “deserve to be protected from such exposure to risk”. 

In a separate statement on Sunday, Absa also announced that senior executives would contribute a third of their salaries to the fund for the next three months. 

"The rapid spread of Covid-19 infections across the world is the most serious public health challenge the world has faced in decades. While social distancing and movement control measures imposed by governments are proving to be an effective tool to contain the spread of infections, it is the burden on public health systems and the materially negative impact on ordinary people that make this a potential human tragedy," the statement said.

"Following the commendable example set by several African heads of state and political leaders in Absa’s presence markets, who have decided to make monthly donations from their salaries to public efforts to combat the virus, the executive directors and prescribed officers of the Absa Group have decided to make similar contributions in their individual capacities."

These were group chief executive Daniel Mminele, deputy group chief executive Peter Matlare, finance director Jason Quinn, chief executive of retail and business banking SA  Arrie Rautenbach, and chief executive of corporate and investment banking Charles Russon.

These executives would forego 33 percent of their monthly salaries for the next three months and donate these amounts to both the Solidarity Fund as well as the group’s Covid-19 community support programmes. Colleagues at all levels of the organisation would be encouraged to consider making donations in line with their own personal circumstances.

“Having made an initial contribution of R10 million to the Solidarity Fund, and to other programmes across several countries in which we operate and delivered comprehensive customer relief programmes, the Absa Group is also in the process of expanding our efforts to make further contributions in all the markets in which we have a presence. 

"The scale of the challenge requires that we work together to find solutions that can help us fight this massive threat to public health and our economic prospects,” Mminele said in the statement.

African News Agency