Illembe NGO assists 70 spaza shops after unrest
A local NGO, on a mission to help spaza shops get back on their feet after the unrest, says it has assisted over 70 businesses so far.
Hearts that Hope started the 'Stock A Shop' initiative to help repair and restock shops that were vandalised and looted during last month's riots.
Kent Vanderyacht, the founder of the Illembe-based non-profit, says they were prompted to do something meaningful after witnessing the destruction.
He says they have helped rebuild businesses in the townships of Salt Rock, Ballito and KwaDukuza.
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The owners have been blown away by the outpouring of kindness by members of the public.
"So far, we've helped 70 shops. We've given them a R7 500 voucher to go to a local distributor that they are already using just to start that supply chain again.
"So they're buying from the local distributor. I mean, the people, just the communities, are so happy that they don't have to walk a kilometre to get their food anymore. They can get it at their local spaza shop."
