13 MAY 2020
Today Share the Care powering MealSA, a joint COVID-19 initiative, has undertaken a collaborative relief project in Mvezo, the birthplace of Nelson Mandela, the founding father of our democracy.
Over 500 food hampers, 500 Maize Meal bags, 2500 soaps, 2500 hand sanitsers and 2000 facemasks will be distributed to the community of Mvezo. The facemasks are provided as a contribution of the Share the Care 1 million Free Fabric Facemasks that is spearheaded by Kaaf Human rights centre, Awqaf SA, the Black Business Council, the World Memon Organisation and others.
The project celebrates the first speech delivered by President Mandela to the houses of parliament after the first democratic elections in April 1994.
Chief Mandla Mandela indicated that the project is significant in that it takes place at the birth place of Tata Madiba, his grandfather, on the occasion of his historic address to parliament, this at a time when we are battling the severe effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit our country. He further indicated that the most vulnerable communities, especially in the rural areas, are suffering the most as they have severely limited access to food, water and sanitation.
Yunus Sulaiman of Meal SA said that the organisation started its mission to distribute 100 000 bags of maize meal across South Africa, but has discovered that the need is far greater and that much more is needed.
As a consequence, MealSA has joined forces with several organisations to provide food relief to vulnerable communities across SA.
“Eradication of poverty is the way to Peace” said legendary singer-songwriter Yusuf Islam / Cat Stevens. The internationally celebrated humanitarian has now joined the campaign through his Peacetrain initiative. Devoted to educational and philanthropic causes, he holds South Africa’s Nelson Mandela up to be the model peacemaker.
Zeinoul Cajee, CEO of Awqaf SA, said that the Share the Care campaign powering MealSA has been undertaken to provide food relief to the most unprotected in our society. Cajee said, “South Africa is one the most inequitable countries in the world and a strong civil society is needed to ensure our communities have dignity by having food, clean water and adequate shelter.”
Cajee added that further relief projects would be undertaken in the coming days at Spruit near Sunderland Ridge in Centurion and at Itireling neighbouring Laudium, Pretoria.
More Info:
Mickaeel Collier (Deputy CEO Awqaf SA)
0822164269 | info@awqafsa.org.za
