Residents of Jerusalema rejoice in mass donation of necessities
A home-cooked meal, clothes and other household items were donated by the Patriotic Alliance
Wherever impoverished communities exist, helping hands are extended by the gracious and giving.
Residents of the Rugby Club informal settlement, affectionately known as Jerusalema, were greeted with a joyous Sunday afternoon surprise, July 11. A huge donation of food, clothes and household items was delivered to the embattled community, courtesy of members of the Patriotic Alliance (PA). All items came from the hearts of the PA and their supporters as a gesture of shared goodwill.
The settlement, notorious for being a hotspot of illegal mining, has been under increased scrutiny by Florida Police, and recent operations have led to the confiscation of illegal mining implements and stolen goods. “One of the root causes of poverty in Jerusalema is unemployment, which further results in criminal activity that affects the rest of Region C, especially Ward 84,” said the PA’s Tamia Playandi.
A far-reaching infrastructure development project that directly benefits the residents of Jerusalema, and several other informal settlements across Roodepoort, is currently underway, providing a glimmer of hope. “We are not happy about the uncontrollable growth of the Jerusalem informal settlement [but] we decided to assist with food and clothing on a humanitarian level,” elaborated Tamia.
“As the PA we don’t have all the answers but one thing is sure – what is needed now is to ensure that the Jerusalema informal settlement does not continue to grow. Then we must put our heads together once we can control and stop the rapid growth, and ensure development in a way that does not further decrease the property value and face of our region and ward,” Tamia concluded.
Rugby Club informal settlement is a hot-button issue that piques the interest of the surrounding suburbs. The current electricity upgrade is one step in the eventual formalising of that plot of land that hopes to end illegal connections and vandalism while bringing dignity to the residents. In the meantime, however, there is food in the bellies of the community and extra layers of clothes to help them through the winter.
