Rebuilding lives: #NotInMyName and Cricket South Africa aid Mthatha flood victims
Families affected by the devastating June floods in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, have received a boost from civic organisations and corporate partners in a show of solidarity aimed at rebuilding lives and restoring dignity.
This week, the King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Municipality hosted a handover ceremony at Northcrest Hall in Ward 8, where #NotInMyName led a humanitarian relief effort to provide essential household goods to flood victims.
The donations included 20 beds, stoves, pots, dishes, irons, and bathing basins, distributed to families who lost their homes and possessions during the disaster. The initiative forms part of #NotInMyName’s Eastern Cape Subsistence Farming and Gender Equality Programme, which has been active in the province since 2024. The programme aims to address the interconnected challenges of poverty, food insecurity, and gender-based violence in rural communities.
“Yesterday’s intervention sought to restore a measure of dignity and comfort to those still struggling to rebuild months later,” said Siyabulela Jentile, president of #NotInMyName. “Through this effort, #NotInMyName continues to demonstrate the power of solidarity and citizen-led action in addressing humanitarian crises.”
The organisation worked in partnership with local leaders and community volunteers to identify affected families and ensure the fair distribution of aid.
In addition to #NotInMyName’s contributions, Cricket South Africa also extended support by donating R5,000 worth of groceries and clothing to the victims. The sporting body’s involvement was commended by municipal officials as an example of the private sector’s role in community rebuilding.
In a statement shared on Facebook, the KSD Municipality expressed its appreciation to all partners who came forward to help flood victims, noting that the contributions “demonstrate the commitment of these organisations to serving the community during times of need.”
Background: The Floods and the Relief Efforts
The June 2025 floods in the Eastern Cape — triggered by days of relentless rainfall — left a trail of destruction across the province. Mthatha and surrounding areas in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality were among the hardest hit, with roads, homes, and public infrastructure damaged or washed away. Dozens of families were displaced, and several informal settlements reported extensive loss of property and livelihoods. Emergency shelters were set up in community halls and schools as government agencies and NGOs mobilised relief efforts.
Months later, many families continue to face challenges rebuilding their lives, prompting ongoing interventions from civic groups such as #NotInMyName, local municipalities, and private partners.
A Shared Spirit of Ubuntu
#NotInMyName’s intervention in Mthatha follows similar relief initiatives in Lusikisiki, Butterworth, and Tsolo, where the organisation has assisted families with farming inputs, food parcels, and gender equality awareness programmes.
As communities in the Eastern Cape continue to recover from the floods, these efforts highlight how civic organisations and institutions — from grassroots movements to sporting bodies — can unite in the spirit of Ubuntu to bring hope and restore dignity in times of crisis.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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