Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and the Minister of Social Development Sharna Fernandez have initiated the distribution of loadshedding relief packs in an effort to mitigate the negative effects of loadshedding.
These were given to two facilities for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) funded by the Department of Social Development, namely United Sanctuary Against Abuse and Holy Cross St Clare Sanctuary.
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Premier Winde emphasised the province’s commitment to protecting the most vulnerable from the effects of loadshedding.
‘Middle- and upper-income residents are able to put some steps in place to ameliorate the impact of loadshedding, but our most vulnerable citizens do not have these resources. These packs are a small but important intervention to support our most vulnerable with some lighting and charging resources,’ he said.
The facilities receiving these packs offer comprehensive support to GBV survivors and their children, including therapeutic intervention, counselling, skills development and reintegration services.
The distributed kits include solar home lighting systems, featuring dual charging (solar panel and AC cable), various lighting options, a rechargeable battery and emergency USB port charges.
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This initiative is part of the Western Cape Energy Resilience Programme, targeting loadshedding relief as a means to mitigate the power crisis’s impact on residents and local services.
Premier Winde highlighted the devastating effect of loadshedding on the economy and its disproportionate impact on society’s most vulnerable. He reiterated the Western Cape Government’s (WCG) commitment to offering tangible relief to these groups.
Minister Fernandez emphasised the growing need for psychosocial support services for GBV victims, which has grown as a result of loadshedding. She described the relief packs as a crucial step in ensuring the effective operation of shelters during power outages.
‘There are many individuals for whom shelters are a beacon of hope. Loadshedding threatens to extinguish that light, literally and figuratively, when it plunges these facilities into darkness. With these loadshedding relief packs, we are offering a small respite for the staff and clients, which I hope will ensure a more effective running of operations when the power goes off,’ she said.
Felicia Fillies, a social worker and acting manager at United Sanctuary Against Abuse, expressed her gratitude for the kits. She mentioned the added security they provide during power cuts, allowing staff to monitor for potential threats and ensuring safety for residents and staff.
Earlier this year, Premier Winde announced a substantial allocation of funds to protect critical services like sewage and water treatment from power cuts.
The WCG plans to invest R1.1 billion in the coming years to address the energy crisis, supplemented by investments from the City of Cape Town and other Western Cape municipalities.
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