Operation SA (OSA) and the South African National Zakah Fund (SANZAF) have donated over 256 tonnes of food aid to the needy since the Covid-19 lockdown began.
The non-profit organisations (NPOs) noted that they have given out food aid, soaps and sanitisers worth R6 million to the central warehouse of the Gauteng Department of Social Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. This move was done to assist 15,000 families in need.
A member of OSA, Yusuf Abramjee, noted, ‘We have never seen such levels of desperation. People are crying for help more and more every day. We are inundated with calls from across the country. We appeal to the public, corporates, and charities to continue to make a difference’.
A National Executive Board member of SANZAF, Shauket Fakie, thanked those who had distributed millions of rands of aid to the weak and vulnerable. He welcomed the announcement that the government would make 250,000 food hampers available and appealed to the government to move speedily and get the aid delivered as a matter of urgency. ‘We hope red tape, corruption, and inefficiency will not derail the process’, he added.
In a statement, the NPOs said, ‘We are also engaging other NPOs to see how we can get more aid to those on the ground without delay. We also have to find a way to see how we can help smaller charities and shelters who are not getting any help’.
They praised the Gauteng Acting Social Development MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, and his team for their hard work during these trying times and stated that people involved in abusing the distribution of food hampers should be brought to book.
Source: News24
Photo source: Ewan Munro
