Food relief supporting looted communities in KZN and Gauteng

During the peak of the renegade looting in communities across Gauteng and Kwazulu Natal in July 2021, a team of dedicated volunteers hauled 10 tonnes of pantry staples from Johannesburg into areas most affected by the consequent food shortages and industry shutdowns.

These food products were purchased with funds raised by the Masakhe Foundation and logistics supplied by GrowZA Social Investment Agency, SOS NPO and Volvo trucks South Africa.

The food was used to increase the capacity of a network of feeding programs and indigent families. Grains and proteins go a long way in helping pantries, meal services, and food insecure families cook nutritious meals and navigate periods of food scarcity.

The following communities were reached directly:

• Pinetown (KZN)

• Pietermaritzburg (KZN)

• Vosloorus (GP)

• Katlehong (GP)

• Kagiso (GP)

• Emdeni (GP)

Thank you to all partners for making this happen within an impressive level of efficiency.

Lessons from emergency disaster response include:

• Partnership is power

• Clear communication channels accelerates delivery

• Organisational ego is a liability

• Donate food…and cash too (planning and logistics attracts hard costs)

Special thanks to David Law from Masakhe Foundation for his tireless efforts in making this project happen and serving with a heart for people and change.

GrowZA is a convenor and programme design unit that supports and coordinates networks in response to community challenges. We invest in relationships that invest in communities.

DID YOU KNOW?

An important recent development in South Africa is that food manufacturers, suppliers and retailers have committed to a landmark voluntary agreement to reduce food waste and loss. The agreement will mark the beginning of initiatives to ensure that surplus food which is still safe for human consumption can be donated to serve needy families in South Africa. The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa’s (CGCSA) Food Safety Initiative (FSI) has already partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry to secure funding from the SA-EU Dialogue Facility to support the initiative.