Tshwane receives equipment to fight Covid-19
Some of the resources donated would be distributed to vulnerable communities and the need for proper hygiene to prevent the spread of Covid-19 was emphasised.
The fight against the spread of Covid-19 received a major boost on Friday when Sasol donated thousands of gloves, sanisiters, soaps and masks to be distributed to the destitute in communities across Tshwane metro.
The donation was made by a senior delegation from Sasol at the Lyttleton Fire Station in Centurion.
The City’s administrator responsible for grants and subsidies expenditure and Wonderboom airport Shiva Makotoko was elated when she received the donation, Tshwane metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba said.
“Makotoko assured Sasol that the resources and equipment donated would be used for the purposes for which they were intended.”
Makotoko said: “The last time I witnessed this partnership between government and the private sector was during the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Rest assured that we are going to use these resources and equipment for the exact purposes you want them to be used for. When the government and the private sector work well together in crises situations it is the communities that benefit.”
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She said the metro has established a disaster command centre consisting of administrators and senior officials which meets once a week to assess the progress relating to Covid-19 and make necessary interventions.
She said the command centre also critically monitors expenditure around efforts to fight the coronavirus.
“We check every penny and resources allocated to us to ensure that they are being spent wisely, efficiently and effectively to flatten the curve. We appreciate the donation from Sasol and wish to express our sincerest thanks also to our frontline staff who are sacrificing their lives in the service of our communities. This equipment will go a long way to ensure that our staff are protected from contracting the virus when they serve our communities with pride. It is important that we look well after those that are saving lives,” Makokoto said.
Sasol donated 65 25 litre drums of sanitisers, 1 000 masks, 1 000 gloves and 1 000 soaps.
Sasol Senior Vice President Moses Arnolds said that what has been most gratifying to observe was the astute leadership provided by our government under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize in ensuring that South Africa does not reach the infection levels experienced in some of the European countries.
“The disaster management of the City of Tshwane has committed that these products will be deployed to support health facilities, places of public interest and distributed to affected communities. We will be signing donation agreements with all recipients to hold them accountable if the products do not reach intended areas,” Arnolds said.
Makotoko said some of the resources donated would be distributed to vulnerable communities and emphasised the need for proper hygiene to prevent the spread of Covid-19. She said washing of hands for at least 20 seconds, staying at home, wearing gloves and masks, using sanitisers with an alcohol content of 60% or more would help prevent the spread of the virus.
In expressing her appreciation for the donation she said: “It is never about us, but about those that we serve”.
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