Latest news with #floodrelief
News24
13 hours ago
- News24
Gift of the Givers calls for arrest of ‘water mafia' after threats in flood-ravaged Mthatha
Gift of the Givers Foundation staff received threats while providing water to residents in flood-ravaged Mthatha. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu previously condemned the threats, and authorities are providing armed protection for aid workers. The humanitarian organisation called for the arrest of those responsible. Gift of the Givers Foundation founder Imtiaz Sooliman has called for the arrest of the 'water mafia' after aid workers were threatened while distributing water to flood-ravaged residents in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. The person who made the threats, he said, was driving a black Toyota Fortuner at the time. His call came days after Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and the OR Tambo District Municipality condemned the intimidation of the workers. The municipality has contracts with companies that own water tankers and distribute water to people during outages. Gift of the Givers has been distributing the water for free ever since the floods hit the Eastern Cape, claiming the lives of at least 92 people, most of them in Mthatha. Sooliman said information indicated that someone driving a black Toyota Fortuner had made the threats. 'Gift of the Givers appreciates the message of support from the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, against the water mafia who tried to intimidate Gift of the Givers drivers while delivering life-saving water to the people of Mthatha, who were severely affected by the floods,' he added. READ | Gift of the Givers 'water mafia' intimidation an attack on ubuntu, says Mchunu 'Given the hardship and difficulty of the people and given the fact that [over] 90 people have passed on, the behaviour of the water mafia is totally disgusting. We appreciate the fact that the SAPS acted immediately by sending an armed person in the truck with our drivers, as well as a car following the water tankers. 'The situation has completely calmed down, but we are calling on the community of Mthatha to help us find a black Toyota Fortuner from which the threat was made, and we need that person arrested,' he said Sooliman added that profiteering from people's hardship needed to stop: This is a message to the water mafia: we will take you on wherever you are because Gift of the Givers is not afraid of anyone. 'We have the support of the government, the SAPS, the SANDF, and above all, we have the support of the communities and the municipalities when it comes to assisting people in dire need, as is the case now in Mthatha and the Eastern Cape. 'This kind of heinous behaviour has to stop. We hope that the government will now extend the support it is giving to Gift of the Givers to all areas where the water mafia are capitalising. All those types of tenders have to stop in the interest of saving money and in the interest of the people of our country,' he said. On Wednesday, Mchunu said the police would not tolerate any attempt to intimidate or obstruct those working tirelessly to save lives and bring relief to the people. 'Gift of the Givers has consistently been a source of hope and dignity to South Africans in their hour of need. Any attack on them is an attack on the very principle of ubuntu,' the minister said.
News24
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News24
‘A call to action': Black Coffee Foundation raises R500 000 for Eastern Cape flood victims
The Black Coffee Foundation, through donations from members of the public and other organisations, has raised more than R500 000 to assist displaced flood victims in the Eastern Cape. Additionally, the foundation has provided food parcels, warm clothing, hygiene packs, and other essentials in collaboration with other prominent organisations. Recognising the scale of the tragedy, the Eastern Cape provincial government has scheduled a provincial day of mourning on Thursday. As the residents of the OR Tambo and Amathole district municipalities began rebuilding their lives following the devastating floods that struck the Eastern Cape over the weekend, renowned DJ Black Coffee's foundation stepped forward in a big way. The foundation raised over R500 000 to help displaced families and communities rebuild. 'This is more than just a relief effort – it's a call to action for all of us to step up and support our communities in times of crisis,' said foundation CEO Lungile Maphumulo. 'The Eastern Cape holds a deep significance not only for the foundation but for the many people who call it home.' The Eastern Cape, particularly Mthatha, holds personal significance for Black Coffee, the Grammy-winning DJ, as he spent part of his formative years there. 'We are grateful to our partners and to every single person who donated towards this cause. Giving back isn't just something we do – it's who we are,' Maphumulo said. In addition to the financial aid, the foundation also worked with partners like Feed the Nation, Hollywood Foundation, Nando's, Sompire, BidAir Cargo, and NGL Logistics Group to deliver food parcels, hygiene packs, warm clothing, and other essential items to those in need. The damage caused by the floods was staggering - Premier Oscar Mabuyane said in a statement that there were 92 confirmed fatalities – with 86 bodies positively identified and 83 collected by family members. Supplied Around 4 308 individuals have been left homeless across the province and are currently being accommodated in shelters. Recovery efforts in the region are progressing, albeit slowly. While water provision has resumed in Amathole, a full restoration is still underway. Similarly, various areas in the OR Tambo district now have running water, with efforts ongoing to restore full access by the end of Sunday. 'We believe that real impact comes through sustained action,' Maphumulo said. 'This initiative is not a once-off campaign – it's part of our wider mission to continue showing up where it matters most. We understand the long road ahead for many families in Mthatha, and we intend to walk that road with them.' Recognising the scale of the tragedy, a day of mourning is being held on in Mthatha on Thursday for those who died in the flooding.
News24
2 days ago
- News24
Gift of the Givers ‘water mafia' intimidation an attack on ubuntu, says Mchunu
Staff members of the humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers staff were threatened while distributing water to victims of the Mthatha floods. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said the attack was 'an attack on the very principle of ubuntu'. The minister said no one would be allowed to profit from disaster or compromise the safety and well-being of people. Describing the 'water mafia's' intimidation of Gift of the Givers staff in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, as 'an attack on the very principle of ubuntu', Police Minister Senzo Mchunu urged officers to deal with them. Mchunu went to the town on Saturday and in a statement on Wednesday, he said the police would not tolerate any attempt to intimidate or obstruct people who were working tirelessly to save lives and bring relief to those affected by the flooding in the area. 'Gift of the Givers has consistently been a source of hope and dignity to South Africans in their hour of need,' Mchunu added. READ | 'Mafia' tells Gift of the Givers to stop providing free water to Mthatha flood victims The minister said no one would be allowed to profit from disaster or compromise the safety and well-being of people. 'The SAPS will ensure the safety of all humanitarian workers in the area and hold those responsible fully accountable under the law.' The Gift of the Givers relief workers were distributing water to flood victims over the weekend when a group of people confronted them and demanded that they cease the relief operation. 'This happened on Saturday when the Gift of the Givers was busy distributing water to flood victims when the criminals directed them to stop what they were doing,' the municipality said in a statement on Tuesday. Confirming the incident, Gift of the Givers spokesperson Ali Sablay said the incident was perpetrated by the 'water mafia'. 'While our teams were busy distributing water, they received a threat from one of the service providers to the [OR Tambo District] Municipality. They were concerned that Gift of the Givers was giving water to the communities free of charge,' Sablay said. Mchunu added that police were also alerted to theft from deceased flood victims' homes. 'Police have been deployed to ensure the safety of the property of the deceased,' he said.
News24
3 days ago
- News24
‘Mafia' tells Gift of the Givers to stop providing free water to Mthatha flood victims
Gift of the Givers staff was threatened by the 'water mafia' while distributing free water to flood victims in Mthatha. Recent flooding claimed at least 90 lives in the region, displacing hundreds of residents. Gift of the Givers relief teams now require police escorts to safely deliver essential aid to affected communities. Gift of the Givers staff was intimidated on Saturday while providing essential aid to flood victims in Mthatha, the Eastern Cape. According to the OR Tambo District Municipality, the organisation's relief team was threatened by people who demanded that it stop supporting hundreds of displaced residents affected by recent flooding that left at least 90 people dead. In a statement on Tuesday, the municipality said the humanitarian organisation's staff received threats from 'unknown people'. 'This happened on Saturday when Gift of the Givers was distributing water to flood victims when the criminals directed them to stop what they were doing.' It condemned the incident. 'We wish to state without fear that extortion is a crime and a moral betrayal of the highest order, especially when directed at those extending a hand to the helpless. To prey on a crisis is to turn pain into profit. It is merciless, and it will not be tolerated,' the municipality said. Speaking to News24, Gift of the Givers' Ali Sablay confirmed the incident and said it was perpetrated by the 'water mafia'. 'While our teams were busy distributing water, they received a threat from one of the service providers to the [OR Tambo District] municipality. They [the service providers] were concerned that Gift of the Givers was giving water to the communities free of charge. 'We are very grateful to the OR Tambo District Municipality, South African Police Service, King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality's law enforcement and the community who said they would not allow this. They told our teams not to leave as they would deal with people behind the threats. Sablay added: It is very sad that during the disaster, greed takes over from people who are supposed to render services to the people. He said his teams were now being escorted by police when delivering essential aid to affected communities. They did not open a police case. The municipality said the incident did not accurately reflect the people of Mthatha and was grateful for Gift of the Givers' assistance. 'This is not who we are. We are people who rebuild, share, and rise for one another. Let us not let the shadows of crime cloud the light of compassion.'
The Herald
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald
Sassa to provide food, cash vouchers, blankets and essential supplies to EC families affected by floods
South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) CEO Themba Matlou has pledged to help families affected by the floods in the Eastern Cape with essential needs. The province was hit by floods this week, affecting several towns and villages, with the OR Tambo and Amathole district municipalities the hardest hit. The floods destroyed homes and claimed 78 lives. Matlou said the agency will help families whose homes were destroyed through its social relief of distress programme. 'To this end, Sassa is active on three established sites where about 229 people are served with three nutritious meals a day, reinforcing the agency's commitment to immediate food security. In addition, 229 vanity packs and five baby packs have been procured and distributed to meet essential personal and infant care needs,' he said. Sassa has developed a disengagement plan where they provide beneficiaries with a basic needs package to help restore stability. The package includes: two-ply blankets; one mattress per person; cash vouchers to address short-term financial needs; and school uniforms for affected pupils. Matlou said this is in line with the agency's mandate derived from the Social Assistance Act. 'Social relief of distress is temporary provision of assistance intended for people in such dire material need that they are unable to meet their families' most basic needs. We also offer our condolences to the families of the deceased and wish a speedy recovery to those who are injured. 'We are working closely with the relevant stakeholders in the social cluster of the province to ensure maximum support is given to the distressed families. We extend our gratitude to stakeholders, partners and community members who continue to support this vital work.' TimesLIVE
