The humanitarian aid organization, Gift of the Givers says its staff in the Western Cape have been asked to assist in at least 20 areas, affected by the latest inclement weather conditions.
Gale-force strong winds and rain over the past 48 hours have wreaked havoc in communities.
Latest inclement weather
The South African Weather Service had issued a Level 6 storm warning for some parts of the province, over the weekend, which was upgraded to Level 9. The Southern Cape, Beaufort West, Overberg, Cape Winelands and Namaqualand in the Northern Cape were in the path of the apparent Black South-Easter.
“A combination of changing weather patterns, human error, strong winds and sub-standard living conditions have manifested in ongoing tragedy, pain and suffering in South Africa for years,” says Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, the founder of the organization.
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Assisting in at least 20 areas
Staff from Gift of the Givers had their hands full recently.
Over the Easter long Weekend, they responded to 3 big fires, in Langa, Du Noon and Mfuni. Over this weekend, they were again called to assist as blazes raged in KTC (Nyanga) and Kayamandi (Stellenbosch), following the Level 9 weather warning.
The organization’s support employees also responded to roofs being blown off homes in Somerset West.
Sooliman adds, “Gift of the Givers is making a call to government to relook at legislation that allows its various departments to access and employ funds immediately a disaster strikes.”
Disaster upon Disaster in SA
Elsewhere in the country, they’ve also been called to provide relief. In Gauteng, teams were deployed to flood-affected Kroonstad in the Free State.
In the Eastern Cape, flooding is also expected in Graaff-Reinet, Maraisburg and in other areas, in that province.
He says, “CSI managers are generous but need to respond within 24-48 hours as a disaster by definition requires speed of response. In most cases, it’s the vulnerable with minimal life’s possessions that are the hardest hit.”
Dr Sooliman says the goodwill of ordinary South Africans, crowdfunding platform Backabuddy and CSI divisions in corporates have assisted them in bringing HOPE to hundreds of thousands of our affected citizens many in sub-standard, sewerage contaminated, water and waste-infiltrated informal settlements.
He added that Treasury budget constraints are a challenge.
Government and Corporate CSI instant response essential
Gift of the Givers has reiterated that it receives no resources from the government when doing this humanitarian work. (They essentially carry out what is the government’s responsibility to its citizens.)
Sooliman concluded, “This is what our humanity, which is an integral part of South African DNA, demands of us.”
The aid organization has also called on the public, to help those less fortunate, saying this will help to build positive human relationships.
Where to donate
“We need to give them HOPE and restore their faith in humanity. They have been bearing the scars of sub-standard living conditions for generations,” Dr Sooliman elaborated.
Here are the details of those who would like to support their current disaster initiatives.
Gift of the Givers, Standard Bank, Account number 052137228, Branch Code 051001, ref Disasters. Please send proof of payment to donations@giftofthegivers.org to obtain your Section 18A tax deductible certificate.
READ MORE: The Gift of the Givers Foundation
