Free grapefruits raise the spirits
The grapefruit is delivered by an unknown truck for free and in huge loads. "We don't know how and why these fruits are delivered to us, but we are grateful
NKOMAZI – Grapefruit in Nkomazi has become so freely available that one can’t even sell them anymore.
The fruit is so plentiful that residents from Block A and B have been using the surplus fruit to make homebrewed beer, disregarding the consequences. “We have the fruit, why not use it for our pleasure? Just as we have used pineapple and pawpaw, we are using grapefruit now. A new ingredient is always better,” said Themba Zulu, from Block B.
The community has been enjoying this beer, until last week, when two people allegedly had to be hospitalised for alcohol poisoning.
“The only difference between our indigenous beer and that which we buy, is the percentage of alcohol. One should be careful that the delicious taste of the beer doesn’t sway you to consume too much. These are the benefits of living in such a society, we are always willing to try out new things,” he added.
The community, though, doesn’t know where the fruit is coming from, or why they are receiving it. They are too busy enjoying it to care. “We have so much of them, selling grapefruit is just a waste of time and energy. The truck comes once or twice a week to deliver the fruit, and we come with our vans and wheelbarrows to transport it home,” said Lucky Shabangu of Steenbok.
The grapefruit is delivered by an unknown truck for free and in huge loads. “We don’t know how and why these fruits are delivered to us, but we are grateful. I even made a very nice jam out of it. If you ask me, I’d say this is the life. We are enjoying having it aplenty,” said Cynthia Lubisi, another resident.
Mpumalanga News spoke to a sister at Mopani Pharmacy in I’langa Mall, who said it wasn’t safe at all to consume this beer, as its ingredients were unknown.
“If people have been hospitalised, it’s a sign that the beer is not safe at all. One would have to do a chemical test to make an authentic conclusion about it, but from the information at my disposal, I don’t think it is safe at all,” she said.
