Caption from left to right: Jaco Esterhuyse, Financial Director of Capricorn Group and Marlize Horn, Group Executive: Brand & Corporate Affairs, at the Afrox Bulk Medical Oxygen facility in Windhoek
7 July 2021
On 7 July 2021, Capricorn Group received the first truck with 21 tonnes of medical oxygen, at the Afrox Bulk Medical Oxygen facility in Windhoek. In total, Capricorn Group, through its Foundation, donated three trucks of medical oxygen valued at N$1,050,000.
Capricorn Group, through the Capricorn Foundation, is proud of its partnership with the NCCI and other private sector companies who formed a coalition, “Business Namibia Covid-19 Response” as an immediate response to strengthen Namibia’s fight against the pandemic. This coalition is working together to secure oxygen supply, construct temporary medical facilities and supplying medical equipment during this spike in the pandemic that has claimed many lives. The first priority of the coalition members have been to secure emergency medical oxygen from South Africa in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the Ministry of Finance and local suppliers of oxygen.
Capricorn Group’s purpose is “Improving lives through leadership in financial services by being Connectors of Positive Change” and has a solid track record of being a responsible corporate citizen, making a positive difference in the communities that we serve. Since the start of the pandemic, the Group has invested more than N$6 million to support Government and vulnerable communities in the fight against Covid-19.
In 2020 the Group established the Capricorn Foundation, a registered Welfare Organisation (WO.499) to coordinate the Group’s corporate social responsibility programmes with the focus areas of Economic Advancement, Education, Health and Vulnerability Programmes. With the outbreak of the pandemic, Health became a major focus of the Foundation.
“There has never been a more poignant time for us to show what it means to be Connectors of Positive Change. I am therefore pleased confirm that Capricorn Group, through the Capricorn Foundation, has donated an amount of N$1,050,000 which will cover the cost of three 21 tonne oxygen trucks. This means that in total Capricorn Group’s contribution will secure 63 tonnes of life-saving oxygen for Namibians. In addition, we have also offered our assistance to the Coalition in terms of logistical and administrative support”, said Thinus Prinsloo, Group CEO.
“All the Namibian companies of Capricorn Group, including Bank Windhoek, Capricorn Asset Management and Entrepo Holdings contributed to the Capricorn Foundation, enabling the Foundation to make this life-saving donation of oxygen. “I am grateful that we are in a position to contribute to this effort, which once again proves the power in collaboration and working together towards a common goal to create meaning full change and making a deep and lasting impact”, said Marlize Horn, Acting Head of the Capricorn Foundation.
“The first of the three 21 tonne trucks with oxygen donated by the Capricorn Foundation arrived in Windhoek today and the oxygen will be used to refill cylinders as well as the tank at Katutura State Hospital as well as support public hospitals with oxygen tanks around the country. I would like to thank the NCCI and our private sector partners for this massive effort that has delivered exceptional results over a very short space of time and which literally saved people’s lives”, concluded Jaco Esterhuyse, Financial Director of Capricorn Group.
