Funds, food and clothes flood in for homeless shack fire victims

DONATIONS from business, the public and organisations have been streaming in for residents of Khayelitsha who lost their homes in rampant shack fires.

The Gift of the Givers Foundation, the continent’s largest disaster relief organisation, raised more than R200 000 for the victims who are now being sheltered at the OR Tambo sports hall.

On New Year’s Day more than 800 shacks in Khayelitsha’s BM Section were razed. Three people died and 4 000 people were left homeless.

Gift of Givers provincial manager Gawa Sayed said 100 free shacks were being built for residents.

“We will then hand out food hampers that will last for at least two months.”

Sayed said the public had donated small and big amounts of money and clothes.

“People also came with school books and other school necessities. It has been great to see the generosity of the public,” she said.

She said The Foschini Group had donated R100 000 and Woolworths sponsored R20 000.

Corporate Social Investment manager at Foschini, Colleen Carstens said they had also set up collection bins at their head office in Parow and had asked staff to donate clothing and food.

“We saw the plight of those affected by the fire and it is our duty to help.”

The police yesterday handed over hundreds of food packs and blankets to the victims at the sports hall.

Police spokesman Frederick van Wyk said the donations were a way of showing they cared.

Meals on Wheels will today hand over more R250 000 worth of food hampers.

Provincial director Simbarashe Madzana said: “The hampers include tinned foods, toiletries and some sweet stuff for the children. It is (heartbreaking) to lose your home and I am sure that the food pack will be some sort of (highlight) in their lives.”

At the V&A Waterfront a drop-off box for donations has been set up at the information centre. Pick n Pay has also set up a donation box.

Cape Town Disaster Risk Management spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said the city had received more than R77 000 in monetary donations and so far they had created more than 300 food packs from donated foods.