Billionaire Patrice Motsepe pledged R10 million for this year through his foundation to be spent towards the eradication of poverty, unemployment and inequality in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The spending of the money, earmarked for education, women development, co-operatives, sports, arts and culture amongst others, will be overseen by the Nelson Mandela Bay Motsepe Development Forum that will be established from different community-based sectors.
“We want to help our people so that they can go and fish for themselves and not for them to wait for the fish to come to them. We would like to make them independent and ensure that they grow and become successful.
“Government cannot deal with poverty, inequality and unemployment alone. Private business must make a contribution. You cannot have a country where people live in luxury while there are others living in abject poverty beside them,” Mr Motsepe added.
The Motsepe Foundation Trust is currently busy with a nationwide road show to start the process of distributing R500 million for amongst others education, women development, co-operatives, sports, arts and culture throughout South Africa over the next three to five years. The Motsepe Foundation identified the Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, Gauteng and Limpopo as the provinces with the largest populations.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor Benson Fihla, affectionately known as Oom Ben, pledged the support of the municipality for this progressive initiative.
“Needless to say, we the leadership of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality fully and unreservedly support this noble initiative and view it as a major boost and opportunity for exponential growth and sustainable development and that its goals and objectives will go a long way towards breaking the shackles of poverty and underdevelopment in education, women cooperatives, SMMEs and businesses, youth cooperatives, religious organizations, worker organizations, traditional authorities, sports, music, arts, community development and other charitable organisations.
“We all know that the challenges of poverty, unemployment, marginalization and inequality are huge, which require effective partnerships in support of sustainable long-term development projects.
“If ever there was a time to act, it is now. Big cities, like the Nelson Mandela Bay, are important engines of growth and provide economies of scale in the provision of services. In addition, in this age of increasing insecurity, inadequate shelter and basic services, we are increasingly faced with the challenge of social and economic unsustainability.
“Thus by working together with the Motsepe Foundation and other likeminded social partners, we remain confident that together we can correct and address the challenges confronting us,” Oom Ben added.
NMB Communications
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