Plumari family helps relieve severe need in Magaliesburg area

The Plumari Private Game Reserve owners in Magaliesburg have stepped in to provide food for residents of the Blokdyk and Mashikani informal settlements, which have been particularly hard hit by the coronavirus lockdown.

Millions of South Africans throughout the country have been left without food as the lockdown has taken away their earning potential, but the situation is especially dire in this part of the country, which has largely been overlooked by the relief efforts in place.

“The plight of these people is heartbreaking. They are in terrible need,” the Plumari family, owners of the private game reserve said.

The initiative has its roots in the reserve’s efforts to keep staff at the on-site Askari Lodge well fed and healthy during the lockdown.

“Many of our waiters, cleaners, security staff, rangers and farm workers have remained at the reserve, and it is obviously important that they receive enough fresh fruit, meat and vegetables during this time. While we were supplying these essential foodstuffs, we realised that there were even more people outside our fences who have lost their income for the time being, and who urgently need help,” a spokesperson for the family said.

With this in mind, the game reserve donated 500 x 20 litre buckets, filled with 20kg of essentials like fresh vegetables and maize meal, sufficient to feed families of up to six people.

The donations also included Sunlight soap and a host of treats that have been provided by Gift of the Givers, including Ouma rusks, tea, soup packs and stock cubes. These have been made available thanks to Gift of the Givers’ close relationships with food suppliers Nestlé, Unilever and RCL foods.

Importantly, the buckets have been printed with awareness messages in Tswana about the coronavirus that promote preventing the spread of it. The buckets may also be used to store maize meal or, more importantly, because they feature a pouring spout, to collect water for sanitation purposes.

The delivery to the 1 000 people living in Blokdyk (located in Hekpoort) and the 300 residents of Mashikani in Magaliesburg took place on 29 April.

A further donation will be made to the people staying at the Springs Day School, and to the 30 families living on the game reserve itself.

“We are so grateful to be able to provide a tiny spark of light in the midst of the darkness that has been caused by this global pandemic,” the family spokesperson concluded.