Food and hygiene parcels delivered in COVID-19 relief effort

The most vulnerable members of a rural community in South Africa are being supported through the COVID-19 lockdown by their local wind farm.

Responding to an appeal by President Cyril Ramaphosa for a national response to lockdown hardships, Noupoort Wind Farm’s economic development team weighed in behind two initiatives to protect the safety and wellbeing of some of their poorest Northern Cape neighbours.

Two hundred food parcels for Noupoort’s homeless, those reliant on welfare benefits and households headed by children were donated for distribution in partnership with the Department of Social Development and Umsobomvu Municipality.

The South African Police Service was also called into action when the delivery truck suffered a dislodged wheel about two hours away from the town.

After rolling up their sleeves to transfer the groceries to support vehicles, the relief team and police officers later ensured that all those in need received their food parcels during a day-long distribution operation.

Noupoort Wind Farm had earlier supported a local youth charity, Inclusive Neighbourhood Spaces, in a scheme to hand out hygiene packs containing hand sanitiser, soap and wet wipes to 90 households in Kwazamuxolo, Eurekaville and Hospitaal Heuwel.

Mainstream’s Economic Development Manager, Sandisiwe Mntonintshi, praised the organisation, which the wind farm helped to establish in 2018 as part of its Socio-Economic Development Programme, for making a long-term difference in the community.

She said: “It was commendable that the INS took such an initiative, because there were no cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the Northern Cape at that time. This does not only show growth in the NGO but also the exercise that the INS carried out was, in essence, to intensify health education.”