Springbok and Stormers captain Siya Kolisi’s foundation has announced an initiative to supply vital equipment to health workers to combat Covid-19.

The Kolisi Foundation initiative will supply more than 4,000 litres of hand sanitizer, 400 reusable pairs of goggles, and face shields to Khayelitsha Hospital in Cape Town and Livingstone Hospital in Port Elizabeth, supporting efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

The Foundation will continue to escalate its response over the coming months as the needs develop at the hospitals.

‘We as a nation should be proud of the way our commander-in-chief, our President, has laid the law. It shows how important this is,’ Kolisi said. ‘But we can’t leave everything to the government. We all have a role to play. For some of us, that is to stay at home right now, and for some of us, we can do a bit more than that. That is to offer resources and help out any way we can.’

Watch: Dobson’s message to Stormers players 

Kolisi has emphasised the need to follow and adhere to the South African government’s social distancing directives. He applauded the swift action taken to fight the spread of COVID-19, advising that every single South African will play a role in combating this pandemic, and stressing that now, more than ever, we will see the importance of working as one, united.

‘The most important thing right now is to fight, to show a united front as a country, and we can only achieve that together,’ said Kolisi.

‘Personal business aside, it’s people getting behind South Africa and getting behind those who can’t help themselves. This is not one man’s battle. It has no race; it doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, it affects everybody. It’s time for all of us to stand together and show a united front in this time. We’re definitely stronger together.’

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images