Less fortunate to be assisted through Eersterust forum amid lockdown
This forum consists of all the different sectors in the community, such as the CPF, schools, ministers’ fraternal (churches) and other interested parties.
A stakeholder’s forum has been established in Eersterust to assist the needy during the lockdown.
This forum consists of different sectors of the community, CPF, schools, ministers’ fraternal (churches) and other interested parties, said chairperson, Apostle Leonard Saul.
“Within this forum, we have also established a war room to assist residents in the area with food parcels,” he said.
Forum secretary Desiree Fisher said the idea of the war room was to prepare the community, should there be a national shutdown.
“We have not distributed any of the donations or funds that we have received because we are preparing for in case there is a total shutdown announced,” she said.
“Should the President announce this tomorrow, or in a month’s time, we will be prepared to assist the less fortunate people. Otherwise what will happen to them?”
Saul explained that the donations they have received to date were from business and good Samaritans in the area.
“We did not have any funds, so we approached businesses in the area who assisted us with bread, fish and maize meal,” he said.
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He said they also opened an account for cash donations.
“We have set a target for R80 000 and have received about R20 000 in cash donations,” he said.
Furthermore, Saul said they have sent a list to the department of social development (DSD) consisting of names of less fortunate families to receive food parcels.
“I know the department already started distributing these food parcels in the area,” he said.
Saul said to establish which families needed assistance, they have divided Eersterust into several sectors, each having an appointed sector leader.
“These sector leaders have generated a list of families in need of help,” he said.
“However, we think the need in the area is much higher because there were still some who came forward after the list was compiled.”
Fisher urged families in need to contact their respective sector leaders.
She also urged other residents to become involved in the forum.
“The ministers’ fraternal is head of the forum, with Saul as chairperson,” she said.
“This is the best way to get through a disaster – on our knees [referring to prayer] and together.”
Meanwhile DSD said it has distributed a total of 150 parcels in Eersterust since 9 April according to data it received from role-players in the community, said DSD spokesperson Jabulani Hlongwane.
“The MEC for social development called on role-players within the community to send through a list of less fortunate people within the community,” he said.
“The distribution was based on these lists.”
He said households that qualified for these food parcels were those that earned less than R3 600.
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