Business Forum steps in
The Grahamstown Business Forum (GBF) has stepped in to replace equipment and pay for repairs, all totalling around R3 000 after the premises of the Grahamstown Feeding Association were broken into this week.
Security gates at the CBD premises of a Grahamstown soup kitchen could cost around R1 000 to repair and 300 people went hungry on Tuesday this week after thieves broke in and stole equipment worth R1 500.
This is the second burglary in 18 months at the Grahamstown Feeding Association's premises − a room on municipal ground off Knight Street, opposite the Traffic Department. The incident also came after the organisation’s bakkie was broken into last week.
The Grahamstown community rallied in cash and kind after thieves broke the locks on the iron gate and then smashed in the door to the facility at the end of June 2015. Then, the town’s network of businesses and residents soon saw to it that the three cooking pots, urn and kettle that were stolen were replaced. A panic button and proper alarm system were installed, with NN Dullabh & Co attorneys offering to pay the security company’s monthly monitoring bill for a year and Maxigas in New Street delivering a 94kg gas cylinder to replace the one that was stolen.
The soup kitchen is a lifeline for 300 impoverished people in Grahamstown who receive meals from the distribution points in Knight Street, Vukani and Extension 6. Each person receives a mixture of soup and soya mince, with four slices of bread, Monday to Friday.
Supervisor Winston Goliath said they’d arrived at 8.30am on Tuesday 15 November to find the gate off its hinges.
There was confusion as to why the alarm hadn’t activated.
However the security company, Hi-Tec, said according to their records the alarm system hadn’t been armed.
“We were only made aware of the break–in at GFA premises (Tuesday) morning at 9.15am when the premises were opened as the alarm system was not armed according to the armed response personnel,” manager Andre Wille said this week in response to questions from Grocott’s Mail.
It was the second incident affecting the association in a week. The previous Thursday, their van was broken into.
Secretary and treasurer Meg Hartzenberg said the theft had a significant impact on the lives of around 300 people, for many of whom this was their only meal of the day from Monday to Friday.
“On my way I passed a group of elderly people who had walked all the way from the Sun City area. They asked me what was going on and I felt terrible telling them there would be no food today,” Hartzenberg said.
The GBF quickly stepped in when they heard about the incident.
Chairperson Trevor Davies said, “The work done by the Grahamstown Feeding Association is an absolutely essential service to Grahamstown. It should be unconscionable for any of us to live in a city where people are literally starving.
“It is our view that as small city we do not always have the resources of the bigger cities, but we can help create a caring society as is evidenced by the work done by these amazing people.
“As the GBF we want to encourage these efforts and are grateful to our members to be able to be in a position where we can support such worthwhile causes.”