“According to incomplete statistics, since the outbreak of the Covid-19, the Chinese government, Chinese enterprises and communities in South Africa have donated or will donate 5 million masks, tens of thousands of testing kits and ventilators, temperature detectors, forehead temperature guns and protective suits to the South African government, political parties, military and medical institutions,” charge d' affaires Li Nan told the Soweto community and members of the African National Congress as he handed over 1,000 food parcels to residents. 

“In addition, the Chinese government is preparing for the third batch of medical supplies donated to South Africa, and the two sides are finalising the details related to transportation and delivery.” 

He said China continued to stand firmly with “our brothers and sisters in South Africa and the whole continent” in fighting against the coronavirus, while forging closer China-Africa and China-South Africa relations. 

“At the just concluded 73rd World Health Assembly last month, president Xi [Jinping] announced a host of measures on China’s support to the global fight against COVID-19, which all are closely related to Africa,” said Nan. 

He said the world was currently facing mounting pressure posed by the rapid spread of Covid-19, as the number of confirmed cases soared to seven million. 

“The pandemic is ravaging over the African continent and the number of newly confirmed cases in South Africa exceeded three thousand yesterday (Thursday). At this moment, China and Africa need to stand together and share weal and woe more than ever before."

The Chinese envoy said Beijing would forever be grateful for the considerable support extended by South Africa and president Cyril Ramaphosa when the coronavirus ravaged China. 

“A friend in need is a friend indeed. At the difficult time of China's fight against the pandemic, the South African government and people have always stood firmly with China. President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote twice to president Xi to express his condolences and support, and has voiced his support for China's anti-pandemic efforts on many occasions.

“A number of South African enterprises, including the Standard Bank of South Africa, the Sun International Group and U-Mask, generously donated anti-pandemic supplies to China despite the impact suffered by them during the pandemic. The Chinese nation is a grateful nation. As now the Covid-19 is spreading rapidly in South Africa and other African countries, it is time for China to reciprocate the goodwill and friendship of African brothers and friends.”

Ramaphosa was on Friday visiting South Africa's Western Cape province, a day after the country registered its biggest daily increase in infections with 3,267 new cases, pushing the country's total number of infection above the 40,000 mark. Of these, 27,006 were recorded in the Western Cape.

African News Agency