After a disastrous week of bad weather and flooding, Afri-Save Cash & Carry’s CEO, Munir Jeeva, once again answered the call. Mobilising a team of volunteers and gathering vital resources, he took to the townships around Kariega to distribute food and supplies to those affected.
Meanwhile, back at Afri-Save Cash and Carry, the doors remained open to all; offering free soup, free coffee, and a chance to charge devices.
“Our community has always stood by us and it is both our privilege and our duty to assist in any way we can, when the opportunity arises,” said Jeeva.
Speaking to UD Express, Jeeva said that after hearing about the latest flooding, his immediate reaction was the same as it was on previous occasions; a deep sense of responsibility and urgency.
“It drives me to get personally involved, not out of obligation, but because our business operates on a strict ethos of giving back more to the province than we take in. We are an essential community pillar, and when our people are hurting, we show up.”
He added that this time, the relief effort came together quickly because it was an extension of what they already do daily.
“We have established internal teams and logistical networks that allow us to mobilise resources, like food, supplies, and volunteers, very rapidly,” he said.
Opening our doors to offer free soup, coffee, and device charging was crucial in providing an immediate, practical safe space for affected residents.
He added that it is about restoring dignity while providing comfort when people have lost everything.
Jeeva confirmed that this initiative is not the first time the organisation has stepped in to assist the flood-affected residents of the area.
“Our commitment to the Eastern Cape is not sporadic; it is woven into the daily fabric of our lives and business operations,” he said.
“This deep-rooted philosophy stems from a clear understanding that our company’s growth is inextricably linked to the prosperity and well-being of the communities we serve.”
Jeeva shared that for over 15 years, they have championed widespread, life-changing initiatives, which include:
- Sustained food security: They drive a 15-year daily feeding initiative, delivering hot meals every single day to children in disadvantaged areas across the province to actively fight youth hunger. “This sustained effort runs alongside our ongoing Food Parcel Drives, where we distribute hundreds of massive parcels designed to fully sustain a family of four to six people for an entire month.”
- Health and wellness: They maintain a profound culture of healthcare support, hosting consistent, regular blood donation drives in partnership with local centres. “Through this encouragement, a significant number of our own employees have become certified ‘gold badge’ donors,” he said. “Furthermore, during critical public health challenges, we leveraged our infrastructure to run highly organised vaccination drives that provincial authorities recognised as some of the most impactful private-sector efforts in the Eastern Cape.”
- Holistic support and education: They maintain an open-door policy for local needs, from providing financial backing for talent in sports and education to assisting with immediate medical crises. “We also remain committed to supporting a home-grown economy by developing and assisting spaza shops through the Afri-Save Traders Club,” he said.
Jeeva added that as Director/CEO, his journey began at Afri-Save in 2006, working his way up from the ground floor to master every department.
“The challenges we face in business, like logistical hurdles or managing fluctuating prices, pale in comparison to the challenges faced by vulnerable citizens. We believe business acumen should be a tool for profound human upliftment.”
ALSO READ: ‘We didn’t think of grabbing wallets, we only thought of grabbing each other’
