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Volkswagen Group South Africa said it had secured about R107m in funding to convert its Port Elizabeth plant into a temporary medical facility to assist in the fight against the covid19 pandemic.
The money would come from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, after an approach from VWSA chairman and managing director, Thomas Schaeffer.
Over the next six to eight weeks, the 66 000 square metre building in Korsten, Port Elizabeth would be converted into a medical facility, able to accommodate 1 484 patients after the first phase is completed.
At full capacity, the facility would be able to accommodate up to 4 000 beds.
Schaefer said that the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) would provide funding of 5.2 million Euros (R107 million).
This would support the conversion of the plant as well as the procurement of protective gear (PPE) for staff at regional tertiary hospitals, regional Primary Care Clinics and 49 Covid-19 test centres.
He added that VWSA would contribute R28 million to the project and would provide the project management for the conversion of the facility and management of the procurement of the critical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
“The plant will be made available to the government until March 2021, with the Department of Health and the NMBM responsible for the management and daily operations of the facility,” he said.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s role would be to assist in facilitating the project and garnering further support from its membership base.
Schaefer said that this commitment was VWSA’s latest move in the fight against the global Covid-19 crisis.
“The company has also been working on the manufacture of ventilators, respirators and masks in partnership with other local businesses, and has offered ongoing support to the Business Chamber and the Municipality in their coordinated efforts to bolster medical care in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.”
“Solidarity is crucial in a crisis and Covid-19 is an unprecedented global threat,” he said.
