Actors Israel Matseke-Zulu and Presley Chweneyagae have joined the fight in helping the underprivileged in Gauteng.
The actors joined forces to donate food and COVID-19 essentials to the community of Alexandra, north of Joburg, yesterday.
The two said their efforts were in response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for all of us to do our bit to help alleviate the impact of the coronavirus especially on the poorest of the poor.
“I was touched when I arrived here. There is poverty written all over the faces of the poor especially women and children. The impact of this virus will be even bigger on our poor than those with money. That is what informed our response, to come here. It’s a double impact for the victims this time when not only do they have to deal with the problem of homelessness caused by the fire but COVID-19 where government calls on all of us to stay at home. Where will they stay? If they do manage to rebuild what would they eat? It’s gonna be difficult,” said Matseke-Zulu, popularly known as GP-MaOrange. He too was born in Alexandra.
The pair were joined by the Southern Africa Youth Movement (SAYM) which helped identify some of the needy across the country.
“The youth are equally affected by the impact of coronavirus. Already they were affected by unemployment and inherent poverty from their homes. Most of them are not in school because of other underlying social injustices. It is for this reason we work with and for the youth to ensure the message reaches the older generation and their parents. Like with HIV/Aids they are impacted as they have to care for the sick elders in their homes. But they also need to adhere to basic hygiene to ensure they don’t catch it and infect others,” said Chweneyagae.
The two are planning to distribute the food parcels and COVID-19 essentials to at least five provinces including Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Freestate and North West.
GP-Maorange and Chweneyagae say their next stop is Mpumalanga, but the aim is to reach every corner in the country.
“We will go around to amplify governments basic message that people must practice basic hygiene – wash your hands regularly with soap, sanitize, observe social distancing, stay at home. This coronavirus doesn’t move, it has no legs or wheels. We the people assist it to move around by moving around,” said GP-MaOrange
