Pretoria - The National Liquor Traders Association (NLT) has joined in on relief efforts to assist businesses hard-hit by devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal by pledging R2million to affected liquor traders.
Parts of KwaZulu-Natal received between 200 and 400mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period last week, which resulted in flooding throughout the province.
Heavy rainfall and flooding were also experienced in the Eastern Cape, with roads, bridges, and houses being extensively damaged, especially in the Port St Johns area.
To date, more than 400 people are known to have lost their lives in KwaZulu-Natal with many more missing or unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, as the country looks on helplessly at images and videos of the devastation taking place surfacing on social media, relief efforts have gradually started trickling in.
Lucky Ntimane, Convener of the National Liquor Traders, said the association would be pledging R2million which would be in the form of food parcels, credit allowances for restocking, and rebuilding for affected traders.
Ntimane said the national organisation was working closely with the KZN branch of the association to identify liquor traders who had been affected by the floods to ensure that support packages were immediately activated.
In addition to that, he said the organisation had also reached out to community-based organisations including churches to see where they could lend a helping hand in order to cushion against the catastrophic impact of the recent floods.
"We remain extremely concerned by the sheer loss of life in KwaZulu-Natal as a result of the recent flooding experienced in the area, and our immediate priority is to reach out to those most affected by this flooding disaster with our constituency."
"Our own members have really been battling on all fronts just to survive and keep their businesses. We will endeavour to work with organisations on the ground in KZN to further extend our support beyond just our own constituency."
Ntimane said they were committed to rebuilding KwaZulu-Natal, and more specifically areas around eThekwini which have been severely impacted, and to ensure that the dignity of those who lost their homes and belongings are restored.
"As liquor traders, we will do our part in supporting our communities in these trying times. The flooding of the recent days has really affected our members' ability to earn an income to support their families," said chairperson of the KZN Liquor Traders Association, Mike Khumalo.
Khumalo added: "This is really a time to hold hands and open our hearts and pockets to ensure that we bring hope to those who have lost their belongings and ensure that not one neighbourhood goes to bed on an empty stomach."
Liquor traders who have been affected by the floods are encouraged to reach out directly to the associations' KZN provincial offices for assistance.
Pretoria News