More salary pledges to soften blow of debilitating virus

FOLLOWING the calls by President Cyril Ramaphosa for South Africans to contribute to the national Solidarity Fund, the University of Johannesburg’s vice-chancellor and principal Professor Tshilidzi Marwala yesterday pledged 33% of his salary to the coronavirus relief fund.

“The pandemic is, without doubt, a defining global crisis of our time and the greatest challenge we have faced in a long time. In a country fraught with inequality and poverty, with an almost 30% unemployment rate, the stakes are considerably higher,” he said.

“While the measures taken have been necessary, they have also seen economies ravaged, unemployment rise, and resulted in unprecedented levels of social upheaval, uncertainty and anxiety. Every day, people are losing income, with no way of knowing when normality will return.

“It is in this context that I pledge a third of my salary to the Covid-19 relief fund.”

The academic praised individuals on the front line of the fight against the pandemic and those helping patients who have contracted the virus.

Marwala added that it was for this reason that UJ’s Library Makerspace team had been using 3D printing to produce reusable surgical face shields to meet the growing need for personal protective equipment for health-care workers.

Rhodes University principal and vice-chancellor Sizwe Mabizela also said he would contribute a third of his salary for the next three months to help fight the impact of the disease.

Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina last week said for the next three months he would donate 33% of his monthly salary to the fund.

In addition to Masina’s pledge, the City of Ekurhuleni said senior officials would also contribute.

City manager Imogen Mashazi and group chief financial officer Kagiso Lerutla would donate 33% of their monthly salaries to the fund, while MMCs would contribute 25%.

Speaker Patricia Kumalo would donate 20%, while chief whip Jongizizwe Dlabathi would contribute 15% for the next three months.

On Monday, the Rustenburg municipality said mayor Mpho Khunou and MMCs would take a 30% salary cut to put towards Covid-19 relief efforts in the city for up to three months.

As would speaker Sheila MabaleHuma, single whip Levy Mokwele, municipal manager Victor Makona and all MMCs.