Mamelodi community fed and empowered in cold snap
The soup kitchen project will run throughout winter and raise awareness about registering to vote.
Hundreds of Mamelodi residents were served delicious hot soup and bread to keep warm in the cold winter weather on Wednesday morning at Malaka Street in Mamelodi West Section B3.
The civil rights movement, #NotInMyName, manned the soup kitchen as part of the Winter Comfort and Voter Action Programme across communities.
Themba Masango of the movement said they continue to provide immediate relief to vulnerable communities while also championing electorate participation.
The movement is running the programme throughout June and July.
“This is an ongoing soup kitchen that can happen every two months. It’s an act of love and compassion.
Therefore, we needed to bring our partners on board to provide a soup kitchen to the neighbourhood where we grew up,” said Masango.
He said the initiative has two core pillars. The first is emergency winter relief to provide soup kitchens, blankets and clothing distribution.
“The second one is voter registration encouragement, empowering residents to register for the upcoming local government elections,” said Masango.
He said #NotInMyName volunteers will be on the ground at every winter programme location to assist community members with voter registration.
“We will provide information on how to check registration status, register online or locate the nearest Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) station.
“Comfort in winter should not be a luxury – and neither should the right to shape our own governance. We are bringing warmth to bodies and to our democracy, one community at a time,” said Masango.
More than 700 people were served on the day.
A previous soup kitchen was held on June 12 at Mamelodi West Section A3.
Masango concluded by calling on all forward-thinking South Africans to join the programme.
“Those who have the means, please partner with us by donating food parcels, clothes and blankets this winter.”
#NotInMyName was founded in 2017 by activists to combat gender-based violence and femicide.
It has since expanded its mandate to include community disaster relief, anti-xenophobia initiatives, and Pan-African human rights advocacy.
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