De Beers Donates to Women’s Support Groups

RAPAPORT… De Beers has contributed $200,000 to assist women’s shelters and support organizations in its diamond-producing countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The money, which will be split evenly between Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa, will help women and children whose vulnerability to domestic violence has increased due to local lockdowns, De Beers said Wednesday.

“As the world faces unprecedented health and economic challenges caused by the [coronavirus], many women and children are also being exposed to a significantly increased risk of gender-based violence, while having limited ability to access support services, and finding those services are under extreme pressure,” said De Beers CEO Bruce Cleaver.

Cleaver will also donate 30% of his salary over the next three months to charitable organizations supporting vulnerable people in southern Africa, the company added.

De Beers has given more than $5 million in COVID-19 relief since the beginning of the month, with $2.5 million going to aid causes across Botswana and Namibia, and another $3 million helping South African businesses in financial crisis. It has also made its Debswana facilities in Botswana available for the government to use as treatment or isolation centers.


Image: De Beers’ Orapa mine in Botswana. (Ben Perry/Armoury Films/De Beers)