August 2021: In the past few weeks a lot has happened in our organisation and in our projects, which we would like to inform you about today.
Siyabonga general members meeting
On July 9th, our biennial general members meeting could take place despite the corona restrictions and with appropriate hygiene measures. We reviewed the past two years of our organisation's work and, above all, the situation in the projects during the corona pandemic with a photo lecture.
The trend of increasing donations since Siyabonga was founded could not be continued in 2020 due to the corona pandemic and the resulting loss of some large institutional donors (e.g. Moritzschule, Edith-Stein-Schule in Erfurt). It is all the more gratifying that many private donors have remained loyal to us. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all donors who have not forgotten our projects during this difficult time.
The association's board of directors was thanked for its work and all board members were re-elected for their offices.
Unrest in South Africa
Surely you have heard in the media about the severe unrest in South Africa in July. The protests began after the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma for contempt of justice on July 8th, 2021. Violent riots and looting followed, especially in the major cities of Johannesburg and Durban, as well as Zuma's home province of KwaZulu-Natal, where our projects are also located. Our project leaders in Greytown reported looting at the smaller stores and gas station. With the help of local security forces and vigilantes, the invaders were driven away after a week of fear and terror. During this time, no one could go out on the street, let alone shop. This led to a shortage of food and hygiene items at the children's home. Fortunately, the home subsequently received numerous donations in kind for support.
No one was injured in our projects or in the surrounding area. Throughout the country, however, the effects of the violent protests were devastating, with fatalities, supply shortages and devastation.
The cleanup continues and a certain fear of a renewed flare-up of violence is still in the air.
(Pictures: https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/afrika/unruhen-suedafrika-101.html)
Update from the projects and on the corona situation
Due to rising corona infections in the winter months, a strict lockdown with curfew was again in place in South Africa as of June 28th, 2021. Overall, the lockdowns have caused many day laborers to lose their employment opportunities, further worsening living conditions, especially in townships and poor village areas.
Our social worker at the township project, Phindile, reports rapidly rising unemployment. We are very happy that since the restart of the project at the end of 2020, we have already been able to support 114 needy families with food packages and to finance the compulsory school uniforms for ten children.
Unfortunately, the children's home also recorded a corona outbreak at the beginning of August after the reopening of the schools: 44 children and 6 employees tested positive. Fortunately, the symptoms were mild and the situation could be well controlled by reacting quickly, setting up two isolation houses and extensive sanitising measures. With the help of our donations, pending renovations in the houses could advance and new mattresses and bedding have been purchased for the children. Currently it is very cold and it snowed in the children's home, to the great joy of the children.
The activities of the soup kitchen were severely limited during the lockdowns over a long period of time. Since no cooking and no hot food could be distributed, the visitors were mainly supplied with bread and canned food. Currently, hot food is again distributed twice a week. Due to the heavy frost during the winter months, many plants and fruit trees in the vegetable garden of the soup kitchen unfortunately froze to death.
The leader of the village project Karel has resigned from his position as project leader in May 2021 for personal reasons, as we had reported in the last newsletter. His successor Paul is very committed to continue the activities, both in the preschools and with the families in the villages. Thanks to two generous donations we are able to finance the training of two teachers in the preschools. The young ladies Bonisiwe and Ntombifikile are very grateful for this great opportunity.
