04 December 2021

KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Ms Nomagugu Simelane has thanked SASOL for making a profoundly meaningful donation that will enhance and strengthen the Province’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts at Ilembe District. The donation, which is worth R1,7 million, includes a mobile clinic, vaccination cold storage containers, laptops, gazebos and temperature loggers.

It is meant to assist Government in accelerating vaccine uptake, in line with the Siyagoma Waya Waya and Vooma Vaccination drive, as the country continues to fight the spread of the coronavirus.

Upon accepting the donation at Groutville Clinic earlier today, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health Ms Nomagugu Simelane called on the private sector to find ways to work with Government in order to help defeat COVID-19. She said: "We are humbled by this beautiful gesture from Sasol. We appreciate and welcome it with open arms. It just goes to show that Sasol is an organisation that is responsible and responsive to the needs of its community. These are not crumbs. What you have given us shows that you’re committed to a partnership and growth of the society that you operate in. It tells us that you're an organisation that recognises that the fight against COVID-19 is not for Government alone, but will take nothing less than a concerted effort and contributions from all sectors of society. The resources that Sasol are handing over will go a long way to enhance the work that we as a Department are doing to screen, test, treat and vaccinate our fellow compatriots in order to keep them safe from this deadly pandemic."

Mashudu Ndou, Sasol's Vice President: Corporate and Community Affairs, said: "We believe that today's donation of medical equipment and resources will go a long way in assisting the Department of Health in KwaZulu-Natal to reach particularly those communities in remote areas, thereby enabling Government to reach its vaccination targets by December 2021."

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently confirmed that the existence of Omicron, which is the latest COVID-19 variant is a huge concern.

"This is understandably of huge concern for everyone. We therefore urge community members to get vaccinated so that together, we can stand strong against this persistent pandemic," continued Ndou.

ENDS Issued by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health