67 grocery hampers help feed 67 families
The community outreach, held in the true essence of Ubuntu, was an extension of Mandela Month initiatives which were delayed due to last month civil unrest.
CLAIRWOOD families living below the breadline were blessed with a generous donation of grocery hampers from Transnet on Wednesday, August 3.
The community outreach, held in the true essence of Ubuntu, was an extension of Mandela Month initiatives which were delayed due to last month civil unrest.
“This was an initiative that should have been done last year for Mandela Day but unfortunately due to Covid-19 the company’s funds had to go towards PPE. However, they came on board this year. I appreciate how Transnet has kept us in mind because there is food insecurity in Clairwood. Residents have to go all the way to town now because local shops have been burnt and destroyed. This is a welcomed relief because we can at least give something back to the community. With all the negativity that is happening in our country, such acts of human kindness help uplift and unite our community irrespective of our differences. When we come to give and stand in the gap for disadvantaged communities, all the negativity is left out. This has not only helped feed families has also touched people’s hearts,” said ward 32 PR councillor, Sharmaine Sewshanker.
“We are very grateful to receive these hampers during a difficult time where we have been struggling to make ends meet. We were severely affected after the recent lootings. People lost their lives and many stores were destroyed. We hope that we can one day find permanent employment so that we can a decent means to a livelihood and sustain our families,” said a community member who wished to remain anonymous.
Amanda Khumalo from Transnet Engineering Corporate Affairs Department shared that the company makes it a point to honour Mandela Day every year. “It is our way of uplifting communities in the areas where we operate. This year we decided to give back to Clairwood by distributing 67 grocery hampers to 67 needy families. We operate right across the informal settlements of this community and we hadn’t done anything for them previously. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we were limited in the kind of outreach we could do so we thought it best appropriate to help feed those in need.”
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