There is hope for looted North Coast spaza shops

After a week of large-scale vandalisation and looting, Stock A Shop aims to put many uninsured small-scale business back on their feet.

The Hearts that Hope non-profit (NPO) was launched in 2012 by Salt Rock locals, Kent and Lyndall Vanderyacht to enhance the lives of orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable children.

Through Stock a Shop they hope to see the many recently destroyed informal shops restored, allowing communities in outlying areas to get their hands on essential items.

The goal is to help affected informal traders in the iLembe district by restocking each shop with R7 500 of inventory. In some cases, funds would be used to rebuild the small shops.

“With your donations, we can help them get a head start in rebuilding their businesses, while also providing a vital supply to the affected communities,” said Kent.

And Hearts that Hope has not been sitting by idly. Already the NPO has raised more than R150 000 to help restore and rebuild.

“At the moment, we appear to be able to help all of the informal shops between Shakaskraal and Shayamoya,” said Lyndall.

“I could not just sit and watch from the checkpoints. On Thursday last week I went out to Shaka’s Head, and Shakaskraal on the next day. The devastation was just too much and I knew we had to do something to help,” said Kent.

“I left on my scooter in fear of what I had decided to do. I wanted to go into the community that we had feared wanted to loot our shops and burn them down. I prayed before I went for safety and protection and the wisdom. My heart was pounding as I had heard they had looted the whole township.”

But Kent said that his fear was misplaced and that he was immediately welcomed by the first person he met.

“I just started listening to their feelings and hearing how we were all feeling the same. They were also gripped with fear and they too did not understand what was happening. They were also scared to come out of their houses on Monday night, they were also fearful for their lives.”

Contact Hearts that Hope at 082 716 6773 and info@heartsthathope.com.

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