Four pensioners from Suthani Community Garden in Alexandra, who set up their permaculture garden a few years ago, are now feeding 25 people every day.
However, the shortage of clean water in this water-stressed community garden had a major impact on their crops. Shoprite surprised the four pensioners with hippo spazas and a Jojo tank to ease the negative impact.
The additional equipment will allow them to have constant access to clean water, while the hippo spazas will be used to generate an income from the additional crops, said Shoprite’s Kelly Atherton at the handover of the equipment.
“This gift is exactly what we need. We’re excited to start selling our vegetables using our hippo spazas and using the money to grow and feed our community,” said Kenneth Sibaya, one of the pensioners who work in the garden every day.
The Shoprite Group is committed to taking hands with beneficiary organisations to establish long-term solutions to hunger relief.
“This is why we have taken the hands on approach with Suthani to help them establish a sustainable food garden that aims to alleviate hunger and generate an income too,” Atherton said.
The other members of Suthani, which is the Zulu word for well-fed, are Martha Sibiya, wife of Kenneth, and Elias Mabasa and his wife, Lindiwe.
Read: Pensioners project makes a difference in community
