The organisation filled a truck with 10 tons of humanitarian aid after securing several generous donations in just a single day.
THE BRIGHT Future Foundation, a local non-profit organisation, transported emergency relief to communities in KwaZulu-Natal over the weekend after families were left destitute following violent unrest and looting
The truck, which was filled with supplies including food, milk, baby formula, nappies and sanitary towels, departed from Kimberley to Durban on Saturday and was escorted by a convoy of vehicles to ensure the safe arrival of the goods.
The secretary of the Bright Future Foundation, Dr Masood Motlekar, said they managed to fill the truck with 10 tons of humanitarian aid after securing generous donations in a single day.
“We sent out an urgent appeal for assistance on July 15 and managed to fill a load to the value of R287,000. The following day we purchased what we could and departed on Saturday. Our contact at clinics and hospitals in Durban informed us that all the shops and pharmacies had run out of baby formula and nappies and were unable to source supplies. Babies and children are starving. Even wealthy families are suffering because they do not have access to essential items,” said Motlekar.
He said that military personnel were visible on parts of the road while they were escorted by private armed security from the Durban toll plaza into town.
“We off-loaded the supplies at a warehouse, where distribution will take place.”
He indicated that many areas appeared to be “war-torn and volatile”, where mass destruction was evident.
“Communities from all races and religions have united in securing their neighbourhoods and are taking turns conducting patrols.”
Motlekar said the Bright Future Foundation was established by young professionals and business owners in Kimberley during the lockdown last year.
“We are a group of childhood friends who decided to hand out lockdown food hampers as many people had lost their jobs. Councillors in different areas identified the most needy families. We also held bread drives called ‘a loaf a day’ in Kimberley as well as hamper drives in Ritchie, Hopetown, De Aar and Britstown. We are actively involved to ensure that we can make a difference and that donors’ money is spent where it was intended.”
He added that they had also set up a Covid-19 response team to provide medical support to the community.
“As youths who have roots in the city, we are passionate about making a real impact in people’s lives and leaving a lasting legacy.”
List of supplies:
2,400 rolls of toilet paper
4,860 litres of milk
2,000 loaves of bread
45 boxes of tomatoes
50 bags of potatoes
1,200 packs sanitary pads
1,100 boxes of Cerelac
500 mixed sizes of baby formula
700 boxes of tea
10 boxes Kellogg’s noodles
19 trays of canned food
Executive/Founder members
Chairperson: Altaaf Hamid chairperson
Vice-chairperson: Moulana Ebrahim Jeena
Secretary: Dr Masood Motlekar
Corresponding secretary: Mushtaaq Kazie
Treasurer: Ziyaad Bhyat
Anees Mohamed
Ridwaan Mohamed
Sulaiman Jinnah
Mohammed Desai
Durban distribution headed by Dr Muhammad Haffejee and his team to cover areas including:
Alcock
Stanger
Overport
Isipingo
Kensington
Orient hills
Hill grove
Newlands
Shallcross
Windermere
Musgrave
Westville
