The University of Johannesburg vice-chancellor, Tshilidzi Marwala, said today, he will forgo 33% of his salary and donate it to COVID-19 relief fund.
Marwala said it was an easy decision to take as the crisis requires leadership and personal sacrifices.
“The pandemic is, without doubt, a defining global crisis of our time and the greatest challenge we have faced in a long time. South Africa, like many other countries globally, has been left with no option but to impose drastic measures such as large-scale quarantines, travel restrictions and complete lockdowns,” Marwala said.
“In a country fraught with inequality and poverty, with an almost 30% unemployment rate, the stakes are considerably higher.”
Rhodes University vice-chancellor, Sizwe Mabizela, also pledged 33% of his salary for three months to the Covid-19 Solidarity Fund on Monday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last week, that cabinet and premiers of South Africa’s provinces have taken a 33% salary cut for the next three months and that the money will be donated to the Solidarity Fund.
Numerous business leaders and prominent politicians have since announced they will be taking salary cuts and redirect the money to efforts to fight COVID-19.
