Shoprite has announced that an initial donation of R1-million has been made. The group has also indicated that it aims to grow this amount daily, with the support of the public, via its Act for Change Fund facility.
Customers are welcome to add a contribution to their purchases at the till points in any Shoprite or Checkers supermarket nationwide.
"South Africans are a formidable force for good when we are united," says Pieter Engelbrecht, CEO of the group. "To overcome the greatest challenge of our time, we need to pull together more than ever before."
"Our government has established the Solidarity Fund and we must all play our part to ensure there are enough financial resources to stop this virus," adds Engelbrecht.
The retailer has announced that funding will be made available immediately in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing help over the coming months as the crisis is set to intensify.
Recently, the group announced a R102-million once-off appreciation bonus for its shopfloor and distribution centre employees to thank them for their efforts to feed the nation.
"This is a period of great anxiety for everyone, but the Shoprite Group is doing everything in its power to protect the well-being of its employees, customers and communities during these unprecedented times," Engelbrecht says.
"The group has always been committed to supporting communities in need; it launched the Act For Change Fund, a till-point donation facility, in March 2016 when customers enquired how they too could help drought-stricken communities," concludes Engelbrecht.
All customer donations made to the Act For Change Fund will now be paid into the Solidarity Fund.
For more information, visit
www.shoprite.co.za. You can also follow the Shoprite Group on
Facebook or on
Twitter.