’Kandasamys’ movie team pledges R100K in aid following unrest in SA

Through various organisations in which the production and cast are involved, the team said the money (about US$6,900) will be put towards the distribution of food hampers.

DURBAN, July 19 (ANA) – The team behind the local hit movie franchise “The Kandasamys” announced on Monday that it will be donating R100,000 (about US$6,900) towards aid efforts following the spate of violent protests which saw major businesses and infrastructure looted and destroyed in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces.

Through various organisations in which the production and cast are involved, the team said the money will be put towards the distribution of food hampers.

Members of the cast put out a message of support on social media on Monday.

“To our families and the many volunteers from other provinces that have risked their lives to help us, we see and we thank you,” cast member Koobeshan Naidoo said.

Mariam Bassa, who played the granny on the comedic franchise, said: “We all need each other, black, white, coloured and Indian. Let us stand together against this destruction.”

This follows the destruction caused around KwaZulu-Natal province and parts of Gauteng last week.

Groups of rioters resorted to mass acts of criminality, looting hundreds of businesses, shops and major storage warehouses around KZN and Gauteng. Civil infrastructure facilities, like water treatment plants, were also destroyed.

Clean-up campaigns have been taking place across the country, with various civil and private organisations helping to clean up public and private spaces that were destroyed by the protesters.

More than 20,000 people have already joined a Facebook group, Rebuild South Africa, according to an IOL report. The platform was started by volunteers interested in assisting those who were affected by the protests.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher