Members of coalition parties also joined the executive mayor’s call for public officials in the CoE to pledge to the fund. Councillor Berg of the Independent Rates Payer Association and Councillor Dino of the Patriotic Alliance, both contributed portions of their salaries to the fund.

“In this time of great uncertainty, it has become absolutely clear that our greatest strength as an organisation and institution is our unity of purpose. We have faith that the Solidarity Fund will use all donated funds to help needy South Africans responsibly and without prejudice,” Mzwandile Masina (CoE executive mayor) said.

Amid the daily increasing number of infections, Masinga also urged the Solidarity Fund to investigate the feasibility of including supportive treatments in their distribution of food parcels and relief packs.

“The cost of immune-boosting supplements, hydration solutions and basic fever and pain relief medication is too high among most of our people. As we continue to advocate for communities to practice preventative measures, we must begin to live with the truth that many people are infected and currently battling the virus in their bodies. We cannot allow them to suffer alone, without any assistance. This is not what we stand for as a country,” he concluded.

The mayor pointed out that July marks the last month officials will be donating a portion of their salaries to the Solidarity Fund, and that the City of Ekurhuleni’s total donation to the Solidarity Fund will be published on the fund’s website.