Community rallies to help VOP angels
The Pietermaritzburg community has rallied to the aid of the Voices of Pietermaritzburg (VOP) Angels charity organisation, which has been targeted by criminals consistently over the last week.
Despite being wiped clean of all the charity shop’s stock last week, criminals are still trying to break into the premises every night.
However, local businesses and individuals have committed their help so that the organisation can operate again.
Safire House, based in the Redlands Estate, has offered to devote their 67 Minutes for
Mandela Day Project towards collecting food items for the VOP Angels. Calling it the Grocery
Box Challenge, the company has requested their departments to collect at least 67 non-perishable food items that will be donated to VOP Angels.
Monica and Jacques Recycling and Resale have offered to install the burglar guards that have been purchased, while a representative of a national security company has also offered help. The agreement is yet to be confirmed.
Another member of the community has been giving of his time during the night to look after the premises until the burglar guards are installed. Some of the recipients of the grocery boxes have also offered to patrol the area in the vicinity of the shop.
Melanie Dickason, manager of VOP Angels’ charity shop, said that another attempted break-in took place last Friday – the fourth time in the week. Fortunately, a concerned citizen scared them off.
“We feel so vulnerable now. We are half way through the month and have no funds at all to help the next lot of families at the end of the month. I just wish these thieves could be caught,” said Dickason.
Michelle Stevens, who works for VOP Angels, said they rely on donations and the charity shop.
“We cannot afford security alarms. We know these are opportunists from outside our community,” Stevens said.
Although angry and devastated by the ongoing break-ins, Stevens praised the efforts of the South African Police Services (Saps) for their quick response in attending to the matter.
“I must mention the incredible response time we have had from the Saps each time Melanie has phoned. Melanie also received follow up phone calls from two of the officers, just checking that she and her team are okay.
“As much as we moan and groan about the lack of law and order and accountability of criminals, we do need to acknowledge that out of the darkness has come good and Melanie and her team will survive,” said Stevens.
Pietermaritzburg police spokesperson, Sergeant Sifiso Gwala, said that the dockets are still under investigation.
“At this stage, no arrests have been made. The police will rely on information from any witnesses, as the place has no cameras on the premises,” Gwala stated.