More than 400 000 meals served in KZN

FOOD rescue organisation, SA Harvest have ‘set up camp’ at Jonsson Kings Park in Durban in a bid to address hunger in KwaZulu-Natal following the unrest. They are working with a cohort of collaborators, donors, producers, manufacturers, and logistics companies, including locals from Durban and surrounding communities.

SA Harvest CEO, Alan Browde said a 1 000 square metre marquee was erected on the sports grounds in the city centre within one day and a further 500 square metre marquee was erected in early August. This marquee is serving as a temporary warehouse for massive volumes of food and essentials being transported to the city from SA Harvest’s branches in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

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“This location has become SA Harvest’s base for sorting and distributing relief food and emergency products to vetted beneficiary organisations in the most severely affected parts of KZN. Our branch in Durban and the area where our warehouse is located were directly affected by the unrest, so the team were directly impacted by the unfolding crisis. Our usual warehouse is only 200 square metres which is nowhere near the capacity needed to fulfil the need, and service the number of beneficiaries now being supported. SA Harvest’s response to the rioting and looting began immediately as the severity of the damage and shortages became evident.”

Alpha Nzama from Umlazi works to pack food hampers at the marquee.

“We are very happy because we are serving the community,” he said.

Durban resident, Vuyiswa Cele added: “We pack the food for our beneficiaries and then we deliver, making sure all our beneficiaries get their food.”

Facts and figures

According to Browde, SA Harvest has delivered the equivalent of 7,2 million meals to food vulnerable communities since its inception in October 2019. As of June 30 SA Harvest is servicing 30 beneficiary organisations in KZN

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“Since the inception of our branch in KZN in August 2020 up to 30 June 2021 we had delivered 419 000 meals. Between July 1 and August 12, we have already delivered 730 000 meals, almost doubling the number of meals delivered within a six-week period over the preceding 10-month period,” said Browde.

He said that overcoming challenges has been part of the continuing relief effort.

“We believe that the KZN region will suffer after-effects for some time and SA Harvest will continue providing assistance in some form or another for years to come. 20 million people go to bed hungry every night, and 3 million of these people are in KZN. Our assistance in KZN will continue as long as we are in business,” concluded Browde.