Food parcels donated to victims of the Ethembeni informal settlement fire
Peter Luhanga
After a fire which burnt 50 homes in Dunoon’s Ethembeni informal settlement to the ground on 5 July leaving about 200 people, including children, homeless, retail giant Boxer donated food parcels to the affected families on Wednesday 19 July.
The food items channeled through ward councillor Mesie Makuwa’s office included 10kg of maize meal, 10kg of rice, tinned fish, cooking oil, and sugar amongst other items.
Zanele Xhagwe, who lost her home and all her belongings, was one of the people who received a food parcel from Boxer.
“What Boxer has done is very nice… it is the most beautiful thing,” said Xhagwe.
Makuwa said the recipients were “very thankful” for the retail giant’s food parcels.
“Boxer opened their heart and offered to donate food parcels to those families affected by the fire in Ethembeni informal settlement. We want to thank Boxer really,” said Makuwa. “We appreciate what Boxer has done for us.”
She said the township has had a good relationship with the Dunoon Boxer store since the outlet was opened in June last year, providing work opportunities to Dunoon residents.
Boxer’s Dunoon store manager John Musa said all the staff are Dunoon residents and when the fire occurred, he asked his head office if his store could provide food relief, to which the head office agreed.
Musa said the food donation was extensive: “It is bigger than the normal donation we normally give.”
He said donations were given to 76 families affected by the fire.
“It is important to look after people, especially the ones we’re trading with. Business is not just about our staff, managers at work, business is about the community and the support we get from the community, and we give it back,” said Musa.