Ekurhuleni metro donates over R1.4-million to the National Solidarity Fund

The Ekurhuleni metro has this week confirmed that the metro has managed to donate a total amount ofR1 478 663.86 to the National Solidarity Fund through pledges made from the salaries of senior public officials.

The amount comprises pledges made from the salaries of senior public officials, including the executive mayor, speaker of council, Chief Whip, Members of the Mayoral Committee, city manager, group chief financial officer, and heads of departments.

Members of coalition parties also joined the executive mayor’s call for public officials in the City of Ekurhuleni to pledge to the fund.

Councillor Berg, of the Independent Rates Payer Association, and Councillor Dino, of the Patriotic Alliance, 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,” said Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina in a statement.

Amid the daily increasing number of infections, the mayor urges 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 the majority 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,” said Masina.

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.

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