Community scrambles for food and security

Left without essential supplies owing to the civil unrest-related two-day shutdown, Richards Bay residents began flocking to shopping centres from early as 4am today (Wednesday) in the hopes of stocking up on food and fuel.

With households running low on supplies and the fear of not having enough in the event of the unrest continuing, residents and mothers of infants are desperately seeking supplies of nappies and baby milk, among other essential items.

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Hundreds queued patiently at various shops like Spar and Pick n Pay in and around Richards Bay.

The Community Policing Forums (CPFs) have continued to patrol and monitor activities in and around the city and at shopping centres, as well as offer assistance with crowd control and Covid -19 protocols.

In Brackenham, community leaders and business owners are in discussions to open outlets and allow residents to purchase essentials, however, they face the challenge of staff being unable to report for work owing to no public transport.

Merinda Ackerman, founder of local charity Walk in Faith, said the NPO has been overwhelmed with requests for baby nappies, bread, milk, noodles and eggs, and other basic food supplies.

‘With the Covid-19 pandemic, many families were already struggling, with others in dire straits surviving day to day, and could not have even been prepared for this.

‘We are struggling to get food donations from the community, and we cannot get any food ordered online or go and buy in the shops because of the long queues at outlets.

‘We have appealed to our local restaurants and takeaways that have buns, bread and vegetables on hand, to please donate those items to charities to help the families in need.

‘Many people struggled to get electricity over the last few days, as systems were offline, and our elderly have been struggling without food. ‘It is a really tough situation and with all the looting and riots, many will lose their jobs, taking away the last bit of people’s dignity.

‘We had so many families in Mzingazi, Mandlazini and KwaMbonambi who were in a difficult situation, unable to access supplies.

‘We are calling on our community who can spare even one food item, to drop off at 38 Raphia Palm, Arboretum so we can distribute and help those less fortunate,’ said Ackerman.

In addition, community members have been rallying support to help those in need of essential supplies, and spreading goodwill and support with kind gestures like delivering snacks, meals and refreshments to CPF members and residents who have been holding the fort in their suburbs and shopping centres as a proactive measure to keep looters out.

Mothers reach out

Meanwhile, Zululand mother Tylor Naidoo, distraught by the number of circulating requests for baby milk formula, offered to supply breast milk to any mother in desperate need.

‘I had two mothers respond shortly after my post, and one of them lives nearby.

‘I just wanted to offer help to those moms who cannot access milk right now, while we wait for the shops to reopen,’ she said.