Durban - Billionaire businessman and president of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, has pledged R30 million to flood victims in KwaZulu-Natal, which he wants to see used as a matter of urgency.
Under his Motsepe Foundation, he joined a high power delegation on Saturday – including Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, KZN premier Sihle Zikalala, as well as ministers and leaders of faith-based organisations – that visited various communities affected by floods in Durban.
Flanked by his wife Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, he toured various communities to assess the devastation caused by floods and offer messages of condolence to grieving families.
Observing the pain and suffering wrought by the floods, Motsepe pledged his help.
The delegation visited families in the Tshelimnyama area, near Pinetown, where many people lost their lives.
As of Saturday, a total of 398 fatalities have been confirmed in the province.
Motsepe said he met the Zulu king earlier, when a committee was formed to ensure the donated funds would be dispensed with urgency to needy families.
He said the committee would include 25 faith-based organisations, government and traditional leaders.
“We want to thank his majesty and religious organisations for this initiative. We have had privileges as the foundation to have worked with our departed king (King Goodwill Zwelithini).
"We came here to make a humble donation of R30 million to help our people. We had a meeting and visited many places. People are suffering the way floods have affected their lives.
"Under the leadership of the king and various traditional leaders, we have appointed a committee that will include faith-based organisations and government.
"We want this R30 million to be spent as a matter of urgency,” he said.
King Misuzulu applauded Motsepe for his generosity and commended his foundation for always “being there when it is needed”.
The monarch said he was grateful for the role played by the Motsepe Foundation, which, he said, has been assisting many communities with water provision in the province.
“It is encouraging to see what Motsepe has done for our people. We commend his philanthropy, to lend a helping hand as many families lost everything.
"It is disheartening that some families are still searching for their loved ones.
“I am grateful for the co-operation that we have seen from the government and public sector. We are consoled by the formation of this committee that is inclusive of all role players. We must unite more than ever before.
"I plead with you to come together in this period of sorrow and I pray that God watches over us during this difficult period,” said the king.
Zikalala said the government was doing all in its power to assist families and communities.
A resident of Tshelimnyama, Nokuthula Mjoka, described a traumatic ordeal the family endured on Monday night, which claimed the lives of two members.
The family lost a 90-year-old grandmother and a 9-year-old son. The grandmother was found on Wednesday after an extensive search; the body of the young boy has not been found.
The house they lived in was completely washed away on Monday night. Mjoka pleaded for shelter and basics, as they were preparing for the funeral next week.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE