Patrice Motsepe, who is a South African Billionaire, has given $10 million to help in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. During the World Economic Forum gathering in Davos, Switzerland, the mining tycoon announced his donation to U2 singer and activist Bono, founder of (RED) campaign.
South Africa, where Motsepe is from, has one of the world’s highest HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rates. Roughly 6 million people, more than 17% of the country’s population, live with the virus according to the World Health Organization.
(RED) has raised more than $240 million since is founding in 2006 to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The funds are used for programs in eight African countries – South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia.
Motsepe, who made the gift through his Motsepe Family Foundation, applauded (RED) founder Bono, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other leading donors for the contributions they have made in fighting HIV/AIDS, but noted that there is still a lot of work to be done. ”Bono, the Gates Foundation, The Global Fund and various other donors and governments have done outstanding work in the fight against HIV/Aids, malaria and tuberculosis, but there is still a lot of work to be done,” Motsepe was quoted as saying.