President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday that Chinese billionaire businessman Jack Ma and Naspers, the biggest company on the JSE have donated money and equipment needed to assist government’s efforts to ward off the Covid-19 virus.
Ramaphosa in his address to the nation said that businesses and individuals have come forward in donating money and equipment to help government’s efforts.
“In addition to the financial pledges announced last week we welcome the commitment by the Motsepe Foundation of R1 billion and by Naspers of R1.5 billion to the coronavirus response,” Ramaphosa said.
“We are also extremely grateful to Mr Jack Ma, the founder of the China-based company Alibaba, who has donated vital medical supplies to South Africa and other countries across Africa.”
Ma and Naspers join tycoons, Patrice Motsepe, the Rupert and Oppenheimer families in splashing billions of rands to government and industry efforts to contain the spread of the virus and its impact on the economy, particularly small businesses
