ICYMI: Local non-profit organisation pleas for help
BROADACRES – Simuka Afrika's programme manager said they have noticed an increase in the number of people coming to receive meals lately, possibly due to the impact of the lockdown.
A local non-profit organisation has appealed to members of the public and the business community to lend a hand in their fight to alleviate hunger in Clay Oven informal settlement.
Simuka Afrika is a registered non-profit organisation based in Broadacres which runs a weekly soup kitchen that caters for more than 2 000 displaced and unemployed people in Clay Oven.The organisation’s programme manager, Godfrey Chingwaru said their kitchen has seen an increase in the number of people coming to receive meals lately. “This growing number might be as a result of the lockdown that left many people jobless.
“Through the generous support of Ward 96 councillor, Sbusiso Mthembu, Simuka Afrika, having observed a growing numbers of individuals stationed at traffic stops to beg for handouts, we decided to embark on an extensive needs assessment survey of two nearby informal settlements, Fandisa and Drummond, with a population of more 2 500 people combined.”
The survey established that the residents of these two informal settlements are highly exposed to communicable diseases such as cholera and tuberculosis, as a result of inadequate water sources and toilets.”He added that most of these people were unemployed women with young children, who sometimes go to bed with empty stomachs.
“We are making an impassioned plea to all corporates and people of Fourways to help us donate food parcels, masks and sanitisers to these disadvantaged communities,” Chingwaru concluded.
Those who would like to lend a helping hand can contact Godfrey Chingwaru on 0731978612 or info@simukaafrika.org
