Caring for those most in need in our City is a vital part of the City of Cape Town’s work. This is why we are extremely grateful to the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany who have provided much-needed COVID-19 relief funding via the KfW German Development Bank to bolster the City’s COVID-19 humanitarian relief efforts.
The City of Cape Town has already supported over 200 soup kitchens during the height of the national lockdown, but as the lockdown has partially lifted, we have seen that many of our residents have been left without jobs or any income, which has meant that the need for food aid is still ongoing.
‘We have seen how devastating the impact of the national lockdown has been on many of our residents, who have lost jobs and are unable to provide for their families. We have already worked throughout the lockdown to support soup kitchens with equipment and ingredients, so that they can provide a warm meal to residents in need, but we have seen that many of our residents still need assistance with food aid. I am extremely grateful for the R100 million funding from the German Government and KfW Bank because I know just how many residents this is going to benefit,’ said Executive Mayor, Dan Plato.
The R100 million will be used to support more soup kitchens across Cape Town as well as Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, the development of local food gardens, and to stimulate the informal economy through the provision of food vouchers that can be redeemed at local spaza shops.
Based on an initial assessment, the funds will allow for the provision of 25 000 food vouchers per month for a three-month period. Food vouchers will be provided to ECD staff and learners and their families, residents involved in community food gardens in their communities, and to support soup kitchens in Hanover Park, Manenberg, Nyanga, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha (Kuyasa, Monwabisi Park and Harare).
Some 250 ECD centres will benefit through the allocation of vouchers and COVID-19 care packs, which will assist with preserving 1500 job opportunities.
‘We are in this together. The pandemic has terrible consequences for so many, all over the world, and here in South Africa. This is about solidarity with the most affected, to inspire hope and give comfort. And it is about strengthening local communities and those who care for their families, friends and neighbours. In the spirit of Ubuntu, we want to contribute to the wave of solidarity,’ said German Ambassador Martin Schäfer.
In line with the general approach of creating safe and sustainable neighbourhoods and to improve the quality of life for all residents, this investment is meant to strengthen social cohesion and better livelihoods among society’s most vulnerable. In times of crises like this one, strong partnerships and solidarity are key to overcoming the challenges faced by those in need.
‘The objective of these emergency relief measures is to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on poor households through increasing their access to food security interventions. By doing so, we aim to uphold the achievements of the successfully implemented “Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading III” Project. I look forward to achieving this goal hand in hand with our long-standing partner, the City of Cape Town,’ said Silke Stadtmann, Country Director KfW South Africa.
The City of Cape Town will work with well-established NGO partner, VPUU NPC (Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading) to ensure that the funding is allocated to those most in need, and that regular reports are provided to the KfW Bank. VPUU have a long track record of community development through various urban upgrade and social upliftment programmes.
‘The special relief funds provide the unique opportunity to restart the local neighbourhood economy in the neighbourhoods we partner with. It is the intention to use the funds to move from the initial approach of much-needed food aid to strengthen a circular neighbourhood economy to ensure local communities benefit most from this relief programme. Women, children and elderly are the main beneficiaries. Imagine a soup kitchen being supplied by a local food garden and providing food for the ECDs and elderly in a neighbourhood all connected towards improving the quality of life of its citizens,’ said Michael Krause, CEO VPUU NPC.