Ebola Outbreak: South African Billionaire Donates N165M

Patrice Motsepe, who was named South Africa’s first black billionaire in 2012 and is worth $2.7 billion according to Forbes, contributed the money to Guinea’s Ebola Fund on Tuesday, October 28,2014. South African billionaire, Patrice Motsepe has donated $1 million (N165,549,757.64) to efforts against the current Ebola outbreak. The mining tycoon, who was named South Africa’s first black billionaire in 2012 and is worth $2.7 billion according to Forbes, contributed the money to Guinea’s Ebola Fund on Tuesday, October 28,2014. A statement as regards the donation was released by the company, African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) of which Motsepe is chairman. It reads: “Patrice Motsepe, Founder of the Motsepe Foundation and Executive Chairman and Founder of African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) donated US$1 million on behalf of the Motsepe Foundation and ARM to the Ebola Fund in the Republic of Guinea (Guinea) to assist in the fight against Ebola in West Africa.” “Mr Motsepe made the commitment to Guinea a few weeks ago and the appropriate regulatory approvals were obtained on Friday.” “The donation will assist Guinea with clinical management, social mobilisation, medical coordination and other key mechanisms of controlling the disease.” “The Motsepe Foundation will continue to contribute and assist in the fight against Ebola in West Africa and will work together with various stakeholders and other interested parties.” The billionaire also urged the African and international business community to continue its fight against the outbreak which he called a “global issue.” Ebola has killed almost 5000 people this year and the current outbreak started from Guinea and spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, Senegal and Nigeria but the latter two have conquered the disease and been declared Ebola-free.