Over 200 residents in Ward 23 in Boboyi who were severely affected by the floods received food parcels from the Beast Foundation on Friday, last week.
Managing director of the Beast Foundation, Yase Godlo told Fever that they had received R1 million from the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Ltd (IDC) to provide relief to victims of the April floods across the country.
Godlo said in the Ugu district a total of 600 household were beneficiaries of the donation.
“Over these two days, our focus as The Beast Foundation is to aid these communities in rebuilding their lives after disaster struck. The IDC has taken its corporate responsibility very seriously and aims to help build a solid foundation on which communities can rebuild their lives. Both groups embrace our responsibility to equip the most vulnerable in these communities to rise above adverse circumstances, with food and warmth being essential to helping them start that journey,” he said.
He added that the destruction wrought by April and May’s floods in the province is a reality many still wake up to every morning, saying that five months on and thousands are still without some of the basics of life and so the wider community continues to rally to their aid.
Godlo said three groups partnered in early September to pack 1200 relief hampers for communities in Ugu, adding that these organisations include the IDC, The Beast Foundation, and the Domino Foundation.
He said the Beast Foundation and Domino Foundation’s Disaster Relief Unit’s representatives spent two labour-intensive days packing blankets and dried food essentials to be distributed to beneficiaries in these areas, many of them being widows and orphans.
Domino’s Tarin Stevenson said: “As happens over and over again, the wider South African community responds generously in times of disaster. The Beast Foundation and the IDC have made a significant difference to the lives of 1200 households in the north and south of KZN.”
Meanwhile, Boboyi’s Nomathemba Nontsu said she was very happy and grateful to be one of the beneficiaries.
The 70-year-old said during the April floods, the situation was really bad since they had to temporarily live in the Ward 23 Community Hall.
“We thank God for the food parcels and blankets. These food items will last us for over a month and for that we are grateful,” she said.
IDC’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Tshepo Ramodibe said: “The IDC has a standing commitment to investing in communities and responding to humanitarian relief. The wellbeing and safety of our fellow citizens is always top of mind. We believe that partnership best enable timely interventions and supporting communities in distress.”
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