Durban — As the government struggles to relocate and rebuild houses for KwaZulu-Natal flood victims, the African Explosive and Chemical Industries company in KwaMakhutha south of Durban has donated 100 tents, water, blankets and school shoes to families affected by April’s floods.
The donation was handed over on Thursday at an event held at Magama Primary school in KwaMakhutha.
The company, with its operations on the outskirts of the township, had initially planned to donate shoes to all 250 pupils at the school.
However, after realising that the children were from families that were hard-hit by the floods, it also bought tents for the families while they waited for the government to relocate them or supply them with building materials.
Company representative Nomali Msomi said they were alarmed to hear that the pupils had shelter challenges back home.
“We decided to add tents on top of the shoes they were bringing.”
Msomi said after learning that the township had not had water since Wednesday, they also bought 20 litres of water per family.
“Our relationship with KwaMakhutha residents dates back many years. We are operating in the township and employ a lot of people from the area, so we have been assisting the community through various kinds of donations for many years and we are continuing to do so.
“When we were told about the plight of pupils in the school, we felt we must give shoes to all the 250 pupils here,” said Msomi.
The school’s principal, Nokuthula Qalaba, thanked the company and said the donation had come at the right time during the winter season.
She also thanked the local non-profit organisation, Sibonisile, which donated food parcels to 100 families who were affected by the floods.
Speaking on behalf of the Education Department, circuit manager Mduduzi Kheswa said the company had helped a lot of schools in the township.
He said there was a time when employees asked the company to deduct money from their salaries to fund the building of extra classrooms.
Kheswa thanked the company and urged residents to protect schools from criminals who stole or vandalised items that were donated by the private sector. He said such incidents discouraged further donations by companies.
It has been four months since the devastating floods hit the province, but many families are still trapped in community halls waiting to be relocated to new homes as has been promised by the government.
Others are still living in their dilapidated homes waiting for building materials, also promised by the government.
According to a recent statement by the KwaZulu-Natal Human Settlements Department, 78 hectares of land had been secured, where more than 3 000 people would be relocated.
Daily News