Gift of the Givers help Tafelsig flood victims

Alicia English|Published 7 months ago

From left, Karthirah Theunissen, a volunteer and Morishia Fortuin, ward clerk for Ward 92, assisted Gift of the Givers during a Mandela Day outreach at Tafelsig community centre.

Juven Rittles, a volunteer at Gift of the Givers, hands blankets to Tafelsig residents whose homes were flooded during the recent inclement weather.

Fagma Slamdien, 47, sat quietly inside the Tafelsig community centre on Thursday July 18, as she waited her turn to receive a much-needed blanket and a warm meal from disaster relief organisation Gift of the Givers.

The mother of three was among more than 50 families whose Tafelsig homes were flooded during the recent heavy rains.

The sun made a fleeting appearance as Juven Rittles, a volunteer at Gift of the Givers, assisted by the Ward 92 clerk and volunteers, handed residents blankets, beanies, warm meals and coffee on Mandela Day.

“Seeing people come out to help us means a lot to me. My house was completely flooded last week, and we appreciate the donation we are receiving today, “ said Ms Slamdien.

South Africans typically mark Mandela Day with 67 minutes of service in honour of late President Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of fighting for democracy.

Mr Rittles said the donation was a heartfelt token from Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers.

“Gift of the Givers saw what happened and considered the dire straits that our people find themselves in. On this Mandela Day, from the heart of Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, this is a small token, to say that as humanity we need to rally around each other and share the love and goodness,“ he said.

Mr Rittles also had a message for the flood victims: “To the people of Mitchell’s Plain, we have seen and taken note of your plight, and where possible, we would want to assist in future.”