St Agnes steps in to provide much-needed help
The disaster appeal set up by St Agnes Church has seen church members handing out food, water, blankets, clothing and toiletries to Molweni residents through their Philangethemba Impact NPC.
A local church has set up a disaster relief fund to help the flood-stricken community of Lower Molweni. Residents of the village are struggling to rebuild their homes following the devastating floods that left more than 400 people dead. Cited as one of the worst disasters in KwaZulu-Natal’s history, the floods left 40 000 people displaced, 4 000 houses completely destroyed and 8 000 houses damaged.
According to Rev Sizwe Ngcobo, the Philangethemba Impact NPC is a combined effort between St Agnes Anglican Church’s social outreach ministry in Kloof and the Molweni Valley community. Ngcobo said they were also assisted by the Upper Highway community.
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St Agnes Church has been working in Molweni Valley for almost 15 years and has a campus next to the community’s Tholulwazi High School. Their primary aim, according to church officials, is to empower individuals to solve educational and poverty-related issues.
“St Agnes has a lengthy relationship with the community of Lower Molweni. Therefore, in the event of an emergency such as the pandemic or the recent floods, we have the infrastructure and contacts in place to quickly respond to the needs of the community,” said Ngcobo.
One of the directors of the Philangethemba NPC, Ross Norton said, “Many homes were devastated by the floods, and we now have 20 people living on campus who have lost their homes, which includes three of our own employees.”
The flooding has collapsed bridges, which has made travel in the area difficult. “This has an effect on those who commute to work from the valley. We had to walk across a water pipeline that crosses the Molweni River to get to our campus, as we had to provide basic necessities to individuals in need,” added Norton.
A hopeful Rev Ngcobo said, “St Agnes’s flood disaster appeal enables us to support those whose lives have been hit by the floods and displaced from their homes. We may not be able to meet every need that comes our way but all of us, as a community, can do something. We believe everyone can pray and lend a helping hand. We are extremely grateful to the community members who have given food, toiletries, five litre water bottles, clothes and blankets in support of our initiative.”
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