Durban — An NGO is making efforts to collaborate with the SAPS to secure police escorts when it delivers aid.
This is after an Islamic Relief South Africa (IRSA) team was hijacked over the weekend when it was delivering aid in Philippi, outside Cape Town.
Recently, the Western Cape has been affected by stormy weather that has resulted in flooding.
IRSA has delivered aid in areas such as Winnie, Marikana 2 (Philippi), Klipfontein (Philippi), Hadji Ebrahim (Athlone) and Siqalo.
In a statement, IRSA said it had been working with Cape Town Disaster Risk Management, responding to the emergency needs of thousands of people impacted by the Cape storms.
However, the last few days were challenging for its disaster response team following a hijacking in Brown’s Farm, Philippi, on Sunday.
“Shortly after the team had delivered water and hot meals to 798 people in the area, 10 gunmen surrounded the team and held them at gunpoint, while the vehicle was stolen. Thankfully, no staff or volunteers were physically harmed during the incident,” said IRSA.
It extended its gratitude to the SAPS for their swift action in retrieving the vehicle, which was found stripped in Nyanga, and for providing an escort, which allowed the organisation to continue its work.
“Staff are currently receiving group counselling and, moving forward, the organisation will work more closely with the SAPS when delivering aid to communities affected by the storms.”
Despite the challenges, it said it had provided emergency support to over 10 000 people to date, across 25 affected areas. However, with more than 100 000 people in over 33 000 housing structures impacted, and with more inclement weather forecast in the coming days, the organisation is ramping up its efforts.
Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said: “Lansdowne police registered a carjacking case for investigation following a robbery in which a non-profit organisation was robbed of their vehicle and cellular telephones on Sunday, July 14, on Gqumashe Road, Brown’s Farm.”
The case docket was transferred to Nyanga SAPS for further investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
IRSA’s Safwaan Mohamed said the hijacked team was doing relatively well despite the traumatic incident.
“Some staff members have opted to return to work, while others have been allowed time off to recuperate,” he said.
IRSA is collaborating with Cape Town Disaster Risk Management to provide group counselling for the hijacked team. Mohamed said IRSA is also collaborating with police to secure police escorts when making deliveries.
“Since the incident, we have received police escorts from the Strand police while distributing aid in the area. However, we understand that, in certain areas, the police are short-staffed and have multiple issues to address. We have also reached out to various security companies, but they have informed us that they do not operate in the requested areas.
“We are open to any means that would enable us to continue providing aid, whether through a multi-NGO approach, closer collaboration with local government, or SAPS,” he said.
“This is the second hijacking the organisation has experienced in two months. The previous incident occurred in KwaZulu-Natal while distributing aid to those affected by the storms and tornado in the province.
“What we certainly do not want is for certain communities to be flagged as no-go zones for aid organisations out of fear of hijacking and robbery. There are people in genuine need of assistance in these communities, and denying aid to these families will only exacerbate their difficulties,” he said.
In addition to water and hot meals, IRSA provides a non-food items (NFI) kit, which includes blankets, mattresses and hygiene kits. Upon request, they also provide sandbags. The need on the ground is even greater, as many families require clothing, baby formula and sanitation products.
“We will continue delivering aid in the form of water, hot meals, and NFI kits until this Saturday. Depending on the needs of the affected communities, we may also have to provide long-term assistance to those greatly affected, as many shelters have been destroyed along with the belongings inside them,” Mohamed said.
IRSA also thanked the public that supported its disaster relief efforts. Monetary donations can be made easily and securely via its website (www.islamic-relief.org.za), and go towards providing hot meals, clean water, sandbags, mattresses, blankets, hygiene kits, and other essentials to those in need, particularly in informal settlements. Donations in kind can be dropped off at the organisation’s office at 396 Imam Haron Road, in Lansdowne, Cape Town.
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