Langa youths pedal extra mile with home deliveries

LANGA youngsters are going the extra mile to serve their community during lockdown Level 4 by using second-hand bicycles to deliver food to residents’ doorsteps for only R9.

Delivery requests to one of “Cloudy Deliveries” seven members, aged between 17 and 19, are made telephonically.

Residents may either call them to do their grocery shopping on their behalf and, in instances where they have arrangements with shops and takeaways, to do pick-up deliveries.

The teens load goods on to a basket attached to the front of their bicycles and deliver to the gate.

Co-founder Colin Mkosi said they work for the elderly and men and women who do not have the time to go shopping or can’t afford to stand in long queues.

It provides them with a reliable alternative to the way they shop and buy goods, he said.

“We wanted to make the lives of Langa residents easier, and to serve our community. This has made us welcomed in the community. Even when we started, we got immense support, and people trust us with their groceries and takeaways,” he said.

He said a challenge was the fact that they do not have their own working gear, which would make them easier to identify. They also have to repair their second-hand bicycles from time to time.

“We are also using two phones, and sometimes we cannot respond to all the requests. We are happy that we can bring in innovative ways and provide work for young boys. Our overall goal is to have an online delivery shop and an app where people can place their orders online. We want to be a reliable alternative to the way we do shopping or the way the exchange of money and goods takes place between vendors and customers in black communities, while also having an impact on the lives of young boys in our townships,” he said.

Ward councillor Nomtha Dilima said the initiative had been well received. “The queues are long, and during the time of the coronavirus they are busy with deliveries to people’s homes and also for community soup kitchens. They are trustworthy and they are serving Langa. We need to empower them.”

The team can be contacted on 074 882 0306.

THREE vulnerable families lost everything when a fire razed their homes in Seawinds on Tuesday night.

Ward councillor Geraldin Gordon said eight people were yesterday sorting through the rubble in the hope of salvaging whatever they could, which was not much.

“The families will need assistance in rebuilding their homes and lives, and they need the help of anyone who can assist.”

Gordon said fires breaking out during lockdown would make it even harder for the families to rebuild.

“It’s sad, the families lost their important belongings in the fire. One family lost their Sassa cards,” she said.

City fire and rescue service spokesperson Jermaine Carels, said an emergency call was received at 10.24pm of informal structures alight.

He said crews rushed to the scene. “Lakeside, Wynberg and Constantia fire crews with 21 staff in total, were on the scene and the fire was extinguished at 11.14pm,” he said.

Disaster risk management spokesperson Charlotte Powell said an assessment would be done and starter kits would be given to the residents to rebuild. “Sassa has been informed to provide humanitarian assistance,” she said.

Those who wish to assist the families can contact Gordon at 082 825 0511. The fire is the second to have ravaged homes this week.

On Monday, four flats in Gardens were damaged when a fire broke out.

Carelse said: “Firefighters battled the blaze for almost four hours and no injuries were reported.”

“Sassa has been informed to provide humanitarian assistance Charlotte Powell Disaster risk management spokesperson