Oppenheimer discusses thoughts on SA’s Covid-19 response

The South African businessman and philanthropist, Jonathan Oppenheimer, has discussed his country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, as plans begin to emerge of his family’s financial support package.

In an interview with the UK’s Today programme on BBC’s Radio 4, he spoke of the need for South Africans to support SMEs, who he described as the backbone of the economy.

Comparing South African society to a car, Oppenheimer said “it feels like what has happened is we’ve had a puncture, or multiple punctures, and we have to pull over to the side of the road to change the tires, and that’s the lockdown”.

He further spoke of the country’s economy, its engine, extremely fragile after years of corruption during the Zuma administration, and the need to keep it running during this crisis.

As the world grapples with the pandemic, the attentions of governments are firmly focused on supporting economies as more and more go into lockdown, a tragic consequence of the health crisis.

Employment will be key in kickstarting them, and as such is the target of Oppenheimer’s philanthropy.

The family aims to provide a weekly stipend to employees of SMEs through the South African Future Trust (SAFT), initiated with an injection of 1bn rand.

Their contribution is an important first step as South Africans prepare for the worst of this virus, undoubtedly yet to come.

Adrian Enthoven, a financier helping run a special solidarity fund, has previously spoken of the need for the private sector to step up and assist the government when and where it can.

“I think the way that we are going to address this crisis is by joining hands between the private sector and government”, he said.

This nexus will be crucial if South Africa is to emerge with its economy intact, but Oppenheimer has taken heart from the response thus far: “As a patriotic, committed South African, to see everybody come together. 

“Anybody who’s involved in the business world, to be able to go from nothing to having a trust in place… in literally a matter of days, with unbelievable support from government… has just been, wow.

“It just makes me proud to be a South African”.

SMEs will be able to able to apply to the SAFT for funding from Friday 3rd April.

Photo: Maritzburg College