DURBAN - KWAZULU-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala said the Food for Life kitchen in Newlands was an important facility in the fight to eradicate poverty and hunger in the province.
He was speaking at the launch of the facility in Newlands on Friday.
Working together with Food for Life in Newlands, the Sibaya Community Trust built a fully functional and operational kitchen. The project will have the capacity to produce 12 000 plates of food, daily, which will be distributed to the many vulnerable, indigent families in the area and surrounding regions.
Food for Life is one of the largest, registered, non-profit, vegetarian food relief organisations in the world.
The kitchen was built on land that was donated by the Mangaroo family.
The event was attended by the chairperson of the Sibaya Community Trust, Vivian Reddy, Sipho Kaunda, who attended on behalf of the eThekwini mayor and Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza.
Speaking during the launch of the kitchen, Zikalala said the kitchen was an important step towards eradicating hunger and poverty. He also encouraged people to grow their own vegetables.
“We can do that by becoming active, people using their own land, and if they do not have their own land, they can engage with the government to get access to land so that we engage in planting and agriculture in general, produce food and be sustainable. We would like to see people moving from dependence to being self-sustainable. Let us use whatever we have effectively so that we produce food and fight shortages and hunger,” he said.
Reddy said the Sibaya Community Trust was very happy to be part of the new kitchen. “The Food for Life organisation approached me about a piece of land they had obtained but they did not have the funds to build the kitchen. When I thought about the great work they do in the community it did not even take me a second to agree. I am so glad today that our investment will be providing meals for disadvantaged communities. This programme by Food for Life of 12 000 meals a day will help to create a better future for children in South Africa.”
Nishana Baboolall, of Food for Life, said they were thankful for all their sponsors for making their dream a reality. “We humbly ask for your blessings and much-needed support to keep this dream alive for many years to come. We are the hope for many who go to bed without a meal. We are the hope for learners who struggle to concentrate at school because of hunger. Let us make a difference in someone’s life, because after all it is our duty to serve,” said Baboolall.
The Mangaroo family’s representative Vidhor Mangaroo said they were happy that their family property would be used to serve the community.
“It took many years for this project to materialise. It was made possible by sustained efforts and perseverance by dedicated officials who toiled until it was completed. We now have this kitchen that will serve the northern area – a tribute to their efforts.”
The kitchen began operating on the day of the launch with seven pots of breyani cooked for distribution.
One of the beneficiaries, Nhlanhla Mhlongo, who heads the Heaven On Earth NPO said a weight had been lifted off their shoulders.
“Our organisation delivers 1 000 plates a day for five days, and through the help of this kitchen, we will now be able to deliver enough food,” said Mhlongo.
THE MERCURY