Archive photo. (Photo: Pieter Cloete/Maroela Media)
AfriForum’s three neighborhood guards in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) assisted hundreds of people in the midst of devastating storms that hit parts of the Eastern Cape last week.
The Broadwood, Springfield Tudor and Walker Drive Neighborhood Watch teamed up to distribute food, clothing, blankets, formula milk and diapers to communities in need, while also helping with clean-up work and safety measures.
With the help of a donation from SuperSpar Mount Pleasant, the neighborhood guards from Broadwood and Springfield Tudor prepared and distributed around 200 hot meals. The restaurant Nice to see you in Mount Pleasant also donated 67 pre-packaged meals which were delivered to the MTR Smit refuge for children.
AfriForum’s Broadwood neighborhood watch also distributed vegetables and fruit to residents of Groenbossies, Huis Louisa Meyburgh, a home for the elderly, and the Caring With Heart centre.
In addition to humanitarian aid, the neighborhood watchmen also acted quickly to ensure residents’ safety. Members of the Broadwood, Springfield Tudor and Walker Drive neighborhood watch monitored low-lying areas for possible flooding. Where roads were flooded, roads were blocked with the permission of the police and emergency services were called.
Archive photo of Gqeberha. (Photo: DA)
In Broadwood, neighborhood watch members also supported municipal contractors who worked through the night to repair damaged power lines. Residents of Justinweg assisted the workers with coffee and tea.
“It is gratifying to see that in the midst of severe storms, the neighborhood watch not only focused on the safety of residents, but that they also rushed to the aid of municipal teams and other organizations,” says Peter Kindness, leader of AfriForum’s Broadwood neighborhood watch.
According to Kindness, despite the dangerous conditions, the neighborhood watches still carried out patrols to keep communities safe.