Microsoft founder Bill Gates may have made his billions from software, but he will leave his mark as one of the greatest philanthropists the world has seen.The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which he formed with his wife in 2000, has invested US$9bn in Africa in the past 15 years; and he announced this week a further $5bn in funding over the next five years.This will go towards health research, especially for HIV/Aids, malaria, tuberculosis and malnutrition.The world’s richest man has also convinced several other wealthy people, including Warren Buffett, to donate vast chunks of their wealth to the foundation, which has an endowment of $39.6bn and has paid out grants of $36.7bn.Gates was in SA this week for the 21st International Aids Conference, held in Durban. He also delivered the 14th annual Nelson Mandela lecture at the University of Pretoria’s Mamelodi campus on Sunday.Honorary lectures in such esteem are a powerful statement about the world. They are designed to provide a m...
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