Amathole business leaders join hands to cushion the shock

Like-minded business owners in the Amathole district have joined hands to buy and donate food parcels for struggling families in the mostly rural area.

Food parcels amounting to more than R120,000 were distributed across the district in the past week to people whose income has been suddenly drastically cut including car wash workers and barbers.

The initiators of this drive are Amathole ANC councillor Nanziwe Rulashe, businessman Lihle Gxothiwe, Amathole’s ANC regional secretary Teris Ntuthu, Ciki Vena and Misi Zokufa.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Rulashe said the decision to start the initiative that would see some relief for scores of newly destitute families, had been taken because “the fight against  Covid-19 is for everyone, not just for the government”.

“Hunger kills,” she said.

“This is a programme that we will drive until the lockdown ends, where we will assist our people who are in dire need for food. We have people who were making an income as barbers and car wash workers, who now all of a sudden have no source of income.

“There are those who did not benefit from the government’s list of food parcels. This is to assist such people to have something to eat.

“That way they will have no reason to go out and look for food. There are people who are also coming aboard to assist, such as a bakery that contributes with bread.”

Rulashe said they had advertised the drive on social media platforms and people had shown interest and contributed.

“People from other areas are also keen to do this for their people. We should all do what we can to assist those in need.”

The Dispatch reported on Thursday that the provincial social development department conceded that the R45.5m allocation it had was nowhere near enough to procure food parcels that would last a month for 264,312 households with no income.

Amathole was budgeted R11.4m to purchase 8,347 food parcels.

“Where the government cannot assist, let us come and help,” Rulashe said.

“Coronavirus is not for the government, but for us to work hand-in-hand so that we can fight it. How I wish that business people and churches do the same.

“Corona will not kill only the hungry people, it affects everyone. Let us help our people where we can.”

Rulashe said they had also bought sanitary towels and toiletries for needy girls in the district.

“We are closing the gap. We handed these over in Alice, Mbhashe and Debe Neck, and we will still go to other places such as Butterworth and Ngqushwa.

“We decided not to have a specified number, but we bought as per people identified by leaders in communities. Also, as people received food parcels from Sassa, our focus is on those who did not receive anything.

“No one budgeted for coronavirus. It’s here now so we should work together and prioritise those in need. Those of us who have something to contribute need to help as much as we can.”

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