South Africans are being encouraged to get behind the clean-up and rebuilding of devastated infrastructure across certain parts of the country - following a devastating week of violence and looting due to political tension and communities struggling under the conditions of the Covid-19 extended lockdowns.
President Cyril Ramaphosa gave a sobering address to the nation on Friday evening, stating that the government would look at all viable avenues and resources to restore calm following what he described as a "deliberate, coordinated and well planned attack on South Africa's economy, democracy and the constitution".
"Since the unrest started, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure has recorded over 118 incidents of public violence, arson, looting and other unrest-related instances. These incidents were concentrated in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
Ramaphosa confirmed some 2 550 people have been arrested in connection with the unrest, with the "destruction of property and theft of goods has cost businesses, consumers and the country as a whole billions of rands".
According to preliminary reports compiled by NatJoints, extensive damage has been caused to 161 malls and shopping centres, 11 warehouses, 8 factories and 161 liquor outlets and distributors.
Ramaphosa said this did not include the damage caused to roads and other infrastructure.
While he warned that certain supply chains were affected in the affected parts of Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu-Natal, there was no immediate food shortage across other parts of the country.
Seeff Edenvale has since confirmed it will have a truck available which will be escorted to Durban (for drop off in Pietermaritzburg and Umhlanga), and is calling on anyone who would like to get food parcels to their families to drop it off at Seeff Edenvale by 5pm on Tuesday, 20th July.
Drop off point until 5pm on Tuesday, 20th July
Seeff Edenvale - 13 Linksfield Road, Dunvegan, Edenvale
Two collection points in KZN from 9am on Friday, 23rd July
1) Seeff Pietermaritzburg - 296 Bulwer Street, Pietermaritzburg
2) Seeff Umhlanga - 179 Ridge Road, Umhlanga Rocks
Food hampers must be non-perishable and clearly labelled with the name of the recipients and the branch.
Seeff is using its “Home2Home" CSR initiative for this. For more information, contact Seeff National Marketing Manager, Ted Frazer on 083 365 2117.
With Mandela Day on Sunday 18 July, 2021, Ramaphosa encouraged South Africans to make the community-initiated clean-up an ongoing culture and part of daily life. Click here to see where and how you can get involved.
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