WORDS: EDITORIAL TEAM IMAGES: SUPPLIED & SHAYNE ROBINSON
As the lockdown takes its toll on the livelihoods of communities across South Africa, the Steyn City Foundation is helping by delivering food parcels to the community of Diepsloot in Gauteng.
Giuseppe Plumari, CEO, Steyn City Properties, explains that the Parkland residence has a long-standing relationship with the neighbouring community. “When we realised how the community was being affected by the lack of earning potential during lockdown, we sprang into action.”
Plumari points out that for Diepsloot’s inhabitants, hunger is a far greater concern than the coronavirus. “We’re attempting to provide support and assistance by making weekly deliveries of nutrient-rich, immune-boosting fresh produce.”
The foundation made its first delivery of 3,000 packages on 9 April, and has made one more since. “We were delighted to have Gift of the Givers join us in this second drop-off,” says Plumari, noting that this isn’t the first time the two organisations have joined forces. Gift of the Givers has also been a major contributor to Delivering Happiness to Diepsloot in the past, helping to provide school shoes for Diepsloot learners.
Gift of the Givers is also using its partnerships with Nestlé and Unilever to ensure that each package includes necessities to keep households clean and germ-free. The NGO’s ongoing participation will make it possible to reach residents in the more remote areas of the location, which are also those who are hardest hit by poverty. The next delivery will see residents receive 20-litre buckets filled with staples like maize meal, tinned beans, tea and some treats.
Gift of the Givers is but one of many entities to have stepped forward to support the Steyn City Foundation. Bidvest International Logistics has helped with the provision of trucks to enable the logistics, while Fidelity is also on board. Steyn City’s residents have also shown enthusiastic support, as well as neighbouring communities. The Douw Steyn Family Trust, on behalf of Douw Steyn and his family, along with the South African companies he founded – Telesure Investment Holdings, incorporating Auto & General Insurance, 1st for Women Insurance, Dial-direct Insurance, Budget Insurance, 1Life and hippo. co.za; as well as Steyn City Properties and the Saxon Hotel – have responded to the President’s call to unite in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and its ripple effect. In strong and continued support to the community, they pledged R320m. A portion of this will be donated to the foundation for its food distribution in the coming weeks.
“This is a trying time for us all, but none more so than the members of the community who have been left wondering where their next meal is coming from. It’s a privilege to be able to help them, and we’ve been humbled by the support people have given us,” Plumari concludes.
For more information regarding the Steyn City Foundation, visit steyncity.co.za.
