Joint statement by the Banking Campaign Forum (BCF) and Standard Bank

The Banking Campaign Forum and Standard Bank are pleased to announce that they and the family of the Daveyton Aids orphans have concluded an agreement whereby the house will be transferred to the family.

Five children in the Khoza family, aged nine to 15, were orphaned when both parents died of Aids. Mr Khoza died in July. An elder stepsister is caring for the children and various welfare agencies are seeing to aspects of their care.

The BCF and Standard Bank formed a joint task group to address the issue of amounts outstanding on Mr Khoza's bond. Payment has been made on a Liberty Group life insurance policy on Mr Khoza's life which was ceded to the bank. The bank has accepted this as a satisfactory commercial arrangement.

The BCF and the bank agreed further that the personal circumstances of the Daveyton orphans would be addressed as part of a broader public/private sector discussion that will explore joint solutions to the issue of Aids orphans nationally.

BCF spokesman and Sanco's Head of Department for Housing and Land Affairs in Gauteng, Richard Maluleka, said: "This is a great achievement and we would like to thank Standard Bank and the Liberty Group for resolving this problem amicably. We must, however, not forget the Banking Campaign Forum's positive contribution towards this solution. We request that other banks do the same."

Standard Bank Senior Manager Public Affairs and Social Strategy Paul Shongwe said: "The family's welfare has been our primary concern and we are delighted that satisfactory arrangements are in place. We thank the BCF for the spirit in which discussions were held and for their recognition and co-commitment to a process of wider engagement in seeking a way forward in addressing similarly afflicted customers."

Contacts:

BCF: Richard Maluleka (011) 971-1624; fax 971-1625; 0823976652

Standard Bank: Erik Larsen (011) 636-7520; Fax 636-4975; 0832527678