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Organisations came out in their numbers to celebrate Mandela Day with flood victims in Mthatha, giving out survival packs
Hundreds of flood victims in Mthatha, in the Eastern Cape, came together to celebrate Nelson Mandela International Day at Slovo Park this week. Their houses were partially damaged, and they are still using temporary shelters as their homes.
Several Non-Governmental Organisations joined hands to spend 67 minutes in honour of Nelson Mandela’s legacy. People were provided with food hampers and blankets, while children were given toys.
The recent floods in the Eastern Cape could not deter the victims from celebrating Nelson Mandela Day. Humanitarian organisations converged here to show love for the people affected by the floods.
“What we are doing here coincides with exactly what has happened here in these communities in Mthatha and the broader Eastern Cape with the floods. We are basically giving the victims and survivors of the floods material and relief products such as food and blankets, things that can actually help them in moving forward. In the interim, people need to drink and to eat, and so we are providing for that,” says Red Cross CEO Molefi Takalo.
Nelson Mandela’s generosity and his love for the needy encourage many people to do good, especially during this time in Mthatha.
“We are coming to spread that love Tata had for people, so we are coming to feed, to love, and to show that we care. It does not matter what happened, we care, we are here, we are going to help you rebuild what was lost,” says Western Cape Community Care Chairperson, Nicky Boyson.
Humanitarian organisations have also joined hands to donate to the needy.
“We are here to respond to the emergency that is 67 hours and from Monday we will be responding to 67 days, which is now one of the things that we are looking to do, which is to build two houses within 67 hours. They will have to be finished next week,” says Mandela World Boxing Legacy Chairperson, Mthuthuzeli Kope.
Flood victims want the government to fast-track their relocation process.
“Today is Nelson Mandela’s Day celebration, what they call the 67 minutes, but we are in trouble because of the floods. Our prayer is to have a permanent shelter because we are staying in a dangerous zone,” says flood victim, Nokwakha Mhlandleni.
“It’s much better when we have people among us. At least we forget about all the problems we are having because we are staying in these centers with nothing. So sometimes we just forget that we once had floods,” says another flood victim, Thelma Saniya.
Plans are afoot to relocate the flood victims to an identified land.
Over 100 people were left dead by the floods, while thousands were left destitute.
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