#SpazaShopChallenge gains momentum
Local entrepreneur, Bongani Mabuza has found a way to help families hard hit by the national lockdown.
Through his initiative, the #SpazaShopChallenge, Mabuza has already managed to give out over 200 food hampers to families in Katlehong (south of Ekurhuleni).
He as also recently added protective masks to the hampers with a focus on the elderly.
How #Spazashopchallenge began
He says the the lockdown has negatively impacted most of them and this gave birth to the idea of assisting them during this time.
“My community lacks access to adequate knowledge about COVID-19.”
“Plus with the shut down of internet cafes, small businesses including Spaza shops are not able to apply for the various relief funds currently available,” Mabuza explained.
“The majority of my customers in the Spaza shop are elderly bread-winners who mostly earn a grant and run informal business to supplement their income.”
He says added to this pressure is incidents of harassment of Spaza shop owners and their customer by law enforcement.
The vision
The aim of the initiative is to assist as many families as possible with food hampers. Mabuza plans to pilot the idea in other townships.
Theses are donated by individuals and organisations that want to make a difference in the lives in both the less privileged and the local Spaza shops distributing the hampers.
“We would like to continue assisting township communities affected
beyond the pandemic,” he said.
How to participate
People and organisations can assist us by donating any equipment or resources that can assist or just purchasing food hampers for families through our Spaza shops,” says Mabuza.
1. Make a donation of any amount. Note each hamper costs R150.
2. We will package the goods and identify a family in need and give them
your gift through the Spaza shop. We are looking at the elderly and
child headed homes.
3. We will collect details of the families you have assisted and share them with the donor. .
Donations to be made to the following account.
Account Holder: Bongani Mabuza
Bank: FNB
Account Type: Cheque
Branch Code: 250655
Account Number: 62498922783
Reference: #SpazaShopChallenge
Mabuza can be contacted on his cell number on 072 517 0829.
