UMHLANGA Women’s Association is appealing for help to find new premises for its community kitchen, which provides up to 500 meals a day to vulnerable residents, after being forced to temporarily close its feeding operation.

The volunteer-led organisation said they have until December 8 to vacate their current site at Saxony Ilala Ridge, which has forced the temporary closure of its community kitchen.

Founder and chairperson Praneetha Aniruth said the organisation has been unable to secure a suitable long-term premises despite exploring alternative options to house the park home which is equipped with a cold room.

“We are not closing our kitchen because the need for food has disappeared. We are closing because we no longer have a place to prepare it,” she said.

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Describing the kitchen as the heart of the organisation’s outreach work, Aniruth said its temporary closure would affect vulnerable communities who rely on the daily meals.

The kitchen was established in response to the July 2021 unrest in KZN by a group of women and mothers from the Umhlanga community who came together with the aim of providing food to those in need.

Through the generosity of the owners of Saxony Ilala Ridge, the organisation officially opened its dedicated kitchen in August 2022.
Aniruth said the decision to temporarily close the kitchen was heartbreaking, but necessary as the organisation faces the loss of its current premises.

“My heartfelt appeal is to anyone in the Umhlanga or Durban North area who may have a solution for us, whether it is a suitable property, land, a facility or a partnership, to please contact me directly. All we need is a place to call home.”

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The organisation said the cost of relocating and re-establishing a fully operational kitchen, while ensuring that essential food safety and health standards are maintained, means its park home and equipment will be placed in storage until a sustainable solution is found.

Aniruth is appealing to property owners, businesses and community partners in Umhlanga and Durban North to help secure a new home for its kitchen and ensure its feeding programme can resume as soon as possible.

Anyone who can offer suitable premises, land or a potential partnership is urged to contact Aniruth directly on 082 969 8224.

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