GALLERY: Booysens informal settlement rebuilds itself after raging fire
For over a month, organisations and individuals have been involved in feeding and seeing to the needs of the community of Booysens informal settlement.
A raging fire swept through the settlement on January 22, destroying hundreds of shacks and leaving scores of people homeless. Although the rebuilding of shacks has started, the rebuilding of lives is not as easy and residents of the settlement are still dealing with the devastating effects of the fire on their lives
This past week, the Super SPAR Xavier, together with South African humanitarian @ChangeAgentSA Catherine Constantinides and The Pink Drive fed 500 residents of this community.
“Over and above food distributions alongside many organisations who have supported feeding schemes, the generosity and outpouring support through donations of clothing, the community, from the youngest to the oldest member, was physically rebuilding shacks, engaging on community-driven solutions and rebuilding their lives and homes,” said Constantinides.
“Nobody chooses extreme poverty, suffering or pain. But it is the load that some has received. This does not give us the right to judge or assume anything.”
A day was spent ensuring the residents closest to the railway were fed and given necessities such as masks, water and sanitary pads.
A huge thank you goes to Sandeep Desai, MD of Super SPAR Xavier, and Noelene Kotschan, founder and CEO of Pink Drive, as well as Tyrone Noble of Noble Media Solutions and the teams from Vision Tactical for the support.
Images by: Tyrone Noble of Noble Media Solutions
