Absa ramps up efforts to assist communities hit by fire flooding

18 July 2017 by Supplied text

Absa has ramped up efforts in the past week to help mitigate the effects of the devastation caused by fire and floods in parts of the Western and Eastern Cape.

“We have started an emergency fund with a donation of R10 million to support disaster relief efforts, and we are calling on all South Africans to contribute if they can,” said Sazini Mojapelo, head of citizenship at Absa. “Sadly, these disasters disproportionally affect those who have the least, which is why we have acted and called on others to also help.”

Absa will immediately contribute R2 million of the funds donated to date to facilitate support to the communities that have been hit hardest. Absa has also delivered 5,600 Cape Epic tents to provide shelter. Absa is working in partnership with disaster relief non-governmental organisation, Gift of the Givers, as well as with Pick n Pay. Regional staff have pitched in to pack and distribute supplies to affected households.

A portion of the funds donated will be used to contribute towards restoring long-term infrastructure such as education and healthcare facilities.

While Absa’s corporate citizenship efforts are focused mainly on three pillars - education, enterprise development and financial inclusion - we will always assess our ability to assist in severe emergencies.

In March this year, Absa provided assistance to people affected by the Hout Bay fire and in the previous year to drought relief in the Free State.

Donations can be made to:

Absa National Relief FundBank: AbsaAccount: 9309947520Branch Code: 632005