Business sponsorship make work lighter for SANDF
Twenty-one cars including other necessities were facilitated and made available by organised businesses.
DAMAGE and destruction are now in the rear-view as the country slowly rebuilds following the week-long unrest in July.
As a gesture to extend an olive branch, the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry NPC facilitated a handover of 21 vehicles to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
The cars are sponsored on loan by organised businesses. The handover took place at the Army Support Base in Merebank recently.
The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry mobilised support to assist the additional SANDF soldiers that were deployed in the province, to strengthen safety and security measures.
Organised businesses across the province came together to sponsor and pledge items that are required by the additional SANDF members during this time. The items sponsored and pledged varied from accommodation, food, and loaned vehicles.
The handover was done officially by Premier Sihle Zikalala, who was accompanied by the MEC for Economic Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Ravi Pillay, mayor councillor, Mxolisi Kaunda, the Durban Chamber Board of Directors and sponsors.
Zikalala thanked the Durban Chamber of Commerce and businesses for the sponsorship and gave an in-depth tally of the damage caused by the unrest.
“We met as the Moral Regeneration Council and the executive council which serves the provincial cabinet engaged and took a decision to declare a provincial state of disaster.”
“This is because it was not just the private sector that lost out, but serious damage was done to public infrastructure.”
“The current estimated costs of damages and relief required for the sector departments is R1 534 026 832,96 whereas the municipal damages require R47 733 460,37. The interim financial implications are R1 581 760 293,33.
Speaking on behalf of the province, he said it is in times like these when relationships are tested. He said the Social Cohesion and Moral Regeneration Council had announced the rollout of an intensive programme on building unity.
“This is a whole society approach that will involve rebuilding the fabric that holds a diverse country as ours together. As our motto declares we are united in diversity. This calls for the recognition of our diverse racial histories and cultures and recognising them as pieces that are needed to solve the puzzle,” he said.
He added that the response will no doubt make light the burden placed on the men and women of the SANDF as they perform their duties across the province.
