Posted in Features, News on Apr 15, 2020.
April 15, 2020: To contribute towards the efforts to fight kicking the COVID-19 virus out of South Africa, the MultiChoice Group, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates clubs have teamed up to donate 4 000 testing kits and protective gear to healthcare workers and law enforcement agencies on the forefront of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 23 March 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced, in what can be described as the most symbolic address to the nation in the country’s history, a 21-day nationwide lockdown that introduced restrictions mitigating against the spread of the deadly virus.
With the President further announcing a major nationwide testing campaign last week, the MultiChoice Group, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates have forged partnerships with the SA Police Service; the SA National Defence Force and the provincial departments of Health and Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape – to distribute essential testing and protective equipment. This includes test kits, visors, goggles, gloves, aprons, face masks, sanitizers and biohazard bags. The three regions are the epicentres - where the majority of COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed so far.
“As MultiChoice, we recently announced an R80-million fund to buffer creatives in the film industry from hard-times as they stand to lose income during the lockdown period. We are proud once again to be part of an initiative that is aimed at protecting those essential service workers who are at the frontline – from your nurses and doctors to your police officers and soldiers,” says MultiChoice Group Chairperson Imtiaz Patel. “Together with our partners, we view this investment necessary from the private sector and the football fraternity to play a meaningful role in actions that will potentially saves millions of lives.”
According to latest information from government, South Africa currently has 2506 confirmed cases, with 930 coming from Gauteng, 657 from the Western Cape and 519 from KwaZulu-Natal.
“After the Premier Soccer League took a decision to suspend football for the rest of the season to mitigate against the spread of the virus, the Orlando Pirates family is thrilled to be part of this investment. Our nurses and law enforcement officers are like the backline in any soccer team – they are the last, if not the only, human shield that will protect us from conceding to the pandemic. This is why we are grateful that MultiChoice, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates who are usually our rivals in the iconic Soweto Derby, have agreed to work with us as a united front to make this investment,” says Dr Irvin Khoza, the Chairman of Orlando Pirates Football Club.
Kaizer Motaung, the Chairman of the Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, says: “We are forever indebted to the sacrifices of healthcare workers and law enforcement officers who are spending long hours in the trenches – those entrusted with the responsibility of going into our communities to conduct public screening and testing. This protective gear will go a long way to protect them – the people who are mostly at risk of contracting the virus while on the line of duty.”
Ends
For media queries, please contact:
Vina Maphosa
Corporate Communications Manager
Kaizer Chiefs
vina@kaizerchiefs.com
Benedict Maaga
Spokesperson
MultiChoice Group
benedict.maaga@multichoice.co.za
Thandi Merafe
Media & Supporters
Orlando Pirates
thandi@orlandopiratesfc.co.za
On 23 March 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced, in what can be described as the most symbolic address to the nation in the country’s history, a 21-day nationwide lockdown that introduced restrictions mitigating against the spread of the deadly virus.
With the President further announcing a major nationwide testing campaign last week, the MultiChoice Group, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates have forged partnerships with the SA Police Service; the SA National Defence Force and the provincial departments of Health and Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape – to distribute essential testing and protective equipment. This includes test kits, visors, goggles, gloves, aprons, face masks, sanitizers and biohazard bags. The three regions are the epicentres - where the majority of COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed so far.
“As MultiChoice, we recently announced an R80-million fund to buffer creatives in the film industry from hard-times as they stand to lose income during the lockdown period. We are proud once again to be part of an initiative that is aimed at protecting those essential service workers who are at the frontline – from your nurses and doctors to your police officers and soldiers,” says MultiChoice Group Chairperson Imtiaz Patel. “Together with our partners, we view this investment necessary from the private sector and the football fraternity to play a meaningful role in actions that will potentially saves millions of lives.”
According to latest information from government, South Africa currently has 2506 confirmed cases, with 930 coming from Gauteng, 657 from the Western Cape and 519 from KwaZulu-Natal.
“After the Premier Soccer League took a decision to suspend football for the rest of the season to mitigate against the spread of the virus, the Orlando Pirates family is thrilled to be part of this investment. Our nurses and law enforcement officers are like the backline in any soccer team – they are the last, if not the only, human shield that will protect us from conceding to the pandemic. This is why we are grateful that MultiChoice, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates who are usually our rivals in the iconic Soweto Derby, have agreed to work with us as a united front to make this investment,” says Dr Irvin Khoza, the Chairman of Orlando Pirates Football Club.
Kaizer Motaung, the Chairman of the Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, says: “We are forever indebted to the sacrifices of healthcare workers and law enforcement officers who are spending long hours in the trenches – those entrusted with the responsibility of going into our communities to conduct public screening and testing. This protective gear will go a long way to protect them – the people who are mostly at risk of contracting the virus while on the line of duty.”
Ends
For media queries, please contact:
Vina Maphosa
Corporate Communications Manager
Kaizer Chiefs
vina@kaizerchiefs.com
Benedict Maaga
Spokesperson
MultiChoice Group
benedict.maaga@multichoice.co.za
Thandi Merafe
Media & Supporters
Orlando Pirates
thandi@orlandopiratesfc.co.za
