SOWETO – Following a groundbreaking initiative by a community in Phiri (Soweto) to bring stability in the neighborhood using Vuvuzelas, UMEH Group CEO Xolane Ndhlovu dug deeper into his pocket to pledge his support.
Ndhlovu donated a whopping R55 000 of food parcels to 200 members of the project known as Vuvuzela Patrollers, a group of unemployed youths.
Although the businessman initially thought the project was run by six members in one of the biggest townships in South Africa, he took it upon himself to deliver food parcels just before Christmas.
“Some of you may recall an amazing piece of article about the sound of vuvuzela being used on a new purpose as a security instrument in Soweto by a group of unemployed people,” Ndhlovu wrote on his Instagram account.
“The plastic trumpet is being used to alert women and children that their local patrol group is up and ready to safely escort them to where they take public transport.
“Upon learning about the amazing job being carried out by this group, I sent delegates to investigate.
“I initially thought they were 6 people carrying out the good initiative, but our team discovered that the movement has about 200 members and will be hosting their year-end meeting on 20th December.”
The Vuvuzela Patrollers comprises residents of Phiri who decided to keep criminals at bay by resorting to all crime-fighting methods.
It was reported late last year that the group blows vuvuzelas as a warning to criminals following a number of complaints from women who often struggled to get to work without crossing paths with criminals.
Located in the heart of Soweto, Phiri is one of the most crime-infested townships as it recorded sky-high crime statistics up until 2018.
“I didn’t know where to start as brightening up 200 households isn’t a walk in a park. The majority of those interviewed mentioned Xmas food for their families,” continued the UMEH Group boss.
“To cut the long story short, this is how R55 000 food parcel looks like, each item was ordered x 200. Thanks to the team lead by Bathobile Maphosa as well as SAPS in Soweto for their unmerited support throughout the process – ensuring the consignment were safely delivered.”
Apart from women struggling to make their way to work, media reports suggested that a young woman was victimized and attacked in the early hours while en route to university.
The violent robbers walked away with her backpack containing her laptop and university study material such as textbooks.
However, a clarion call was made and the community decided it was enough and organized a meeting to establish their own neighborhood watch.
The Vuvuzela gained prominence in South Africa prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup that was hosted for the first time in Africa where football fans blew the horn to cheer their teams on.
