Nedbank pledges over R6,4m to help communities recover from unrest

Residents clean up the streets after the protests in Alexandra, South Africa. Source: Reuters/Sumaya Hisham

According to the Nedbank Foundation executive head Poovi Pillay, the bank immediately stepped up following the demolition of property and theft to help and support those impacted.

“We are saddened by the recent events and while the actions of the looters cannot be justified under any circumstances, we also recognise that thousands of innocent people and business owners now find themselves in dire need and we are determined to deliver on our purpose to use our financial expertise to do good by assisting them and supporting the collective efforts to rebuild our country,” Pillay said.

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Helping businesses and communities rebuild

Nedbank has partnered with the 67CEOs Foundation as well as the Gift of the Givers and Unicef to help enable its recovery plan for businesses affected by looting and vandalism, and to deliver financial support and on-the-ground assistance to humanitarian relief and small business rebuilding efforts respectively.

The bank is also leveraging its existing Cashbuild and Boxer retail partnerships to extend financial assistance to businesses that need to rent premises or equipment to continue operating, or that need construction materials to repair their damaged buildings.

Nedbank is also distributing more than 3,000 food parcels to its employees and contractors in KwaZulu-Natal who have been severely affected by the civil unrest and funded a community-based bakery in Pietermaritzburg to help increase the supply of essential food items in local communities, particularly old-age and frail-care homes.

Staffers lead cleaning and rebuilding efforts

According to Pillay, Nedbank employees have been at the forefront of the bank’s cleaning and rebuilding efforts. “Employees can help in various ways. Those who have not been able to help physically with cleaning and rebuilding efforts have shown their support financially, with many Nedbankers donating to the Nedbank relief fund,” he said.

Pillay concluded: “We have been greatly encouraged by the evidence of just how united most South Africans still are, and how caring citizens of our country are in joining hands and cleaning up, helping the vulnerable, and starting the process of rebuilding.

“We celebrate and share this spirit of positivity and togetherness and we are confident that South Africa will emerge from this tragic situation stronger, more united, and even more determined to address the socioeconomic challenges that still exist in our country, for the benefit of all its citizens.”