Siyakhula Soup kitchen in Europe informal settlement aims to break the cycle of poverty and hunger by feeding people in Gugulethu. Now, thanks to a donation of bicycles, they can extend their reach by delivering food to those who cannot collect it themselves.
The bicycles, donatd by Pedals for Peace, were handed over by Premier Alan Winde on Thursday November 4.
Mr Winde said he had been at a public meeting when he was asked to assist the project. He then roped in Pedals for Peace who agreed to assist the soup kitchen which feeds 700 children and 250 adults every day.
“I’m so happy that this has final happened and I would love to get a report about the progress – whether its working well and how do make sure that it works in other places,” said Mr Winde.
“It’s about bringing services to the community and ensuring that we find ways of responding to and improving the lives of our people.
“We need cost effective ways of transportation and I can’t think of a better time to provide cycling than right now with the fuel price increase. The increase are going to affect prices of food, taxi fees, the inflation and the poorest are going to be the most affected,” he said.
Siyakhula Soup kitchen founder, Zodumo Duli-Mkinase, said senior citizens and people living with disabilities struggled to collect their food, so they looked forward to having the bicycles to help them with deliveries.
“I absolutely do not have any words to express my appreciation. We are grateful for such support,” she said.
PR councillor Mzwanele Qavashe said the donation meant a lot to the women who had taken a conscious decision to put the needs of others first.
He said running a food kitchen was not an easy task but these women took it upon themselves to make a change in their community and such projects need all the support they could get so that they do not shutdown their doors due to lack of support.