The national lockdown was announced by President Cyril Ramaposa on the 27th of March, to curb the spread of Covid-19 but this period has also forced vulnerable citizens to go to bed with empty stomachs.
ANC treasurer-general Paul Mashatile recently vowed that the massive donation of food sourced from the Africa-Shangai General Chamber of Commerce and the SA-China Cross Border E-Commerce Association would reach the most vulnerable communities in South Africa.
“I want to thank our structure, the Progressive Business Forum (PBF), led by Sasha Muller, for organizing all this. Many of our people are complying with lockdown regulations, they are staying at home. They cannot go to work and therefore they can’t organise food. This is a big initiative and we are going to make sure that these food parcels reach those who are most deserving,” said Mashatile.
The PBF said when it called on businesses to partner in interventions to assist hungry South Africans, the Africa-Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce and the SA-China Cross Border E-Commerce Association quickly mobilised their business community and within 48 hours they committed to providing the 10 000 food parcels to the Gauteng Covid-19 initiative.
Li Nan, Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa said “Since the Covid-19 first hit South Africa in March this year, the South African government has taken swift and decisive actions to enforce national lockdown, so as to cut the spread of the pandemic.
“The South African people actively responded to the call of the government to quarantine themselves at home and avoid moving around, thus making important contributions and great sacrifices for the prevention and control of the Covid-19. However, as an unintended consequence of the lockdown, many people have encountered the inconveniences and difficulties of work and life,” said Li Nan.
The Chinese Longyuan Mulilo (De Aar) Wind Project donated R2.37 million worth of medical supplies and food to local government and community in the Northern Cape province. The Bank of China Joburg branch handed over 100 000 masks, 600 protective gowns and five ventilators to the department of health, which is worth R2 million.
“These cases fully demonstrate the solidarity between the Chinese people and South African people in fighting against the pandemic. Persistence is the secret of victory. The aim of today’s donation ceremony is to show support for the South African people,” said the Chinese embassy.
