Coronavirus: Sister of ex-De Beers Boss Donates $52m for Medical Aid

(IDEX Online) - The sister of former De Beers diamond boss Nicky Oppenheimer has matched his billion-rand ($52m) donation to South Africa's coronavirus battle.

Mary Oppenheimer's money will help the Solidarity Fund diagnose, treat and support those with Covid-19.

In a joint statement with her daughters, she said: "We join all South Africans in expressing our profound hope that, together, we can overcome this grave challenge to our country and to the world.

"We realise that until this pandemic passes, our country will experience enormous difficulties and hardships."

Mary is the daughter of the late Harry Oppenheimer, the billionaire mining magnate and philanthropist who was chairman of De Beers until 1984. 

Her brother Nicky, who was chairman of De Beers after his father, last week announced his own billion rand of aid to help small businesses and their workers hit by the coronavirus pandemic.