In a bid to assist in the fight against the Ebola disease in some parts of West Africa, South Africa’s famous billionaire, Patrice Motsepe, has contributed R10 million ($1 million) to the Ebola Fund in Guinea, it emerged on Wednesday.

This move could galvanise other South African companies to do the same, given the United Nation’s call recently that the fight against the disease should be an all-hands-on-deck- exercise among African countries in particular.

Motsepe is the executive chairman of the JSE-listed mining firm, African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), which stated late on Tuesday that the contribution was made to the Ebola Fund on behalf of the Motsepe Foundation and ARM.

“Mr Motsepe made the commitment to Guinea a few weeks ago and the appropriate regulatory approvals were obtained on Friday (last week),” ARM said, adding the donation will help Guinea with clinical management.

“(It will also help with) Social mobilisation, medical co-ordination and other key mechanisms of controlling the disease,” it added.
Motsepe urged the African and global business groups and the medical fraternity to be steadfast in contributing to the fight against the killer disease.

“According to the World Health Organisation, Ebola is an epidemic in certain countries in West Africa,” Motsepe told Sapa. “However the impact of the disease has potentially far-reaching consequences for West Africa, Africa and the world. It is a global issue which requires the global community to work together and bring an end to the disease.”

It is understood that in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone almost 5000 people have died of Ebola.