Motsepe Foundation has pledged a whopping R1 billion to aid the South African government wrestle down the horrors of the coronavirus epidemic.
On Saturday Mar. 28 , the Founder and Chairman of the Foundation Dr. Practice Motsepe said that the country has to do whatever it takes to get the situation under control. People’s livelihoods are affected and soon we may need to reopen the economy but the virus is an immediate concern, the billionaire magnate sympathized.
The Motsepe Foundation, African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), Sanlam, African Rainbow Capital (ARC) are part of this philanthropic gesture among others.
The Motsepe family’s largesse follows hot on the heels of the R2 billion donated by Johann Rupert and Nicky Oppenheimer, billionaires in their own right, to assist small businesses and their employees.
The Motsepe family are well-known for generosity. In 2014, the (Motsepe) Foundation was part of the alliance that put together “$50 million” to fight the Ebola spread in Africa.
Forbes Africa published on Nov. 01, 2014 that:
“At least four FORBES AFRICA cover millionaires are putting up to $50 million to fight the disease. It’s being seen as Africa solving its own problems. The millionaires include: Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote of Dangote Group; Strive Masiyiwa, the Founder and Chairman of global telecommunications group Econet Wireless; Patrice Motsepe, the Founder and Executive Chairman of African Rainbow Minerals and Jim Ovia, Chairman and Co-Founder of Zenith Bank.”
General Motors in the Americas
General Motors (GM) will produce ventilators to aid plug the gap in the anticipated shortage of ventilators in hospitals around the United States of America (USA).
On Friday Mar. 27, President Donald Trump invoked the “Defense Production Act” to compel GM to churn out these ventilators. The Act allows the incumbent president to direct institutions or companies to produce goods deemed necessary in emergency crises.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on CNN that the “Act” gives the Federal government the power to ask private companies to prioritize and supply the needed goods and pay an increased cost for accelerated production.
So far the USA has reached over 2, 000 Covid-19 deaths. On Saturday, Cuomo affirmed that New York will open Javits medical facility erected by the military to relieve hospitals in the Manhattan area. In addition, Cuomo said there are four new sites that have been approved by the White House in Brooklyn, Queens, State Island and Bronx with a collective capacity of 4, 000-bed facilities.
Epic crisis Europe
In Spain, the government has converted ice makers into morgues. The death situation is dire as the country surpassed China. Medical staff treat patients of the pandemic in wheelchairs and corridors due to lack of hospital beds and capacity, reported CNN.
Media reports say there are at least 51 doctors who lost their lives to this monstrous infliction in Italy. Having topped 10, 000, Italy has three (3) times more deaths than China with 3, 300. The country is in dire straits.
The United Kingdom (UK) is erecting three giant temporary hospital facilities as it expects an exponential peak of coronavirus patients. As a result, retired medics have been called up to help.
There has been a sudden surge of cases recently with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock testing positive on Friday Mar. 27.
The UK death toll has now notched the 2, 000 mark. Contrary to other parts around the world, it is yet to declare a shutdown as citizens are still allowed to roam the streets and exercise outdoors.
Contrasts in Asia
The province of Wuhang in China, the location where it is believed coronavirus plague broke out, has lifted the total lockdown.
As China opens its economic activities in Wuhang, Hubei, another province, has reported few cases albeit imported. South Korea is experiencing a fresh rise of cases from returning citizens and has since proposed quarantine measures as a matter of urgency.
President Xi Jinping and Trump held talks and agreed China will support the USA to combat the fatal malaise.
Meanwhile New Yorkers in the USA retreat from the bustling streets as it becomes the epicenter in the far west, normal life resumes in Wuhang, the far east.
Japan is reporting a spike in Covid-19 case sparking talks that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe might declare a state of emergency.
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, was meant to host the 2020 Olympics Games in July. But the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Japan came under immense pressure to postpone. In the final analysis, the alliance curved in.
The games have been officially deferred to 2021. To which Justin McCurry of The Guardian blatantly wrote:
“IOC decision to put off the event a second blow for businesses already reeling from costs of coronavirus pandemic.”
Five days ago, the IOC along with Japan 2020 Organising Committee issued a “joint statement” that read:
“In the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the WHO (World Health Organization) today, the IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have concluded that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community.”