A domestic worker, who delivers food to over 120 homeless people in the evenings after work, is devastated after her vehicle, which she uses for her deliveries, was stolen from her home at 33 Albany Road, Gqeberha, on Friday evening.
Known to the community as “Mama T,” she vows not to stop doing what she calls God’s work and plans to use an Uber tomorrow evening to deliver food to her three drop-off points: Rink Street, the Town Hall area, and the Provincial Hospital.
“It is not about asking for another vehicle; I just want mine back, especially at this time of year when so many people are going hungry. I also have special Christmas goodies that people donated, which I need to hand out,” said Mama T, whose real name is Tendayi Rambique. She runs her foundation under the name Mama T’s Street Feed Foundation.
According to Police Spokesperson, Capt. Sandra Janse van Rensburg, police are investigating the vehicle theft and are appealing to the public to look out for the vehicle, a white Toyota Carri (Conquest) with registration number DHP172EC. Distinctive features include canopy-type windows on the rear doors and the backseat has been taken out to enable her to transport food. It was stolen sometime between 21:30 on Friday and 08:30 on Saturday, December 7.
Mama T works as a domestic worker during the day, cooks food at her home after work, and delivers it to between 120 and 130 homeless people from 18:00 and 21:00 in the evenings. She has been performing this voluntary work for the past 12 years.
“I used to volunteer for Love Story, which also had soup kitchens for the homeless, but during COVID, it became more difficult to do the work. My son-in-law, who has a car, drove me around in the evenings to deliver food. Sometimes, I used an Uber to do my rounds. One evening, a person who saw me delivering food asked if I had a vehicle. He said he had a vehicle that was just sitting in his garage and donated it to me. This vehicle is God’s Vehicle and ran well. Homeless people come to me and tell me about someone who is ill, and I take them to Livingstone Hospital with the vehicle.
“My work is close to my heart. It’s not about me; it’s about God’s work. Tomorrow is a feeding day. I am not going to let this stop me. I will take an Uber to do my rounds,” said Mama T.
People interested in learning more about Mama T’s Street Feed Foundation can visit her Facebook page, Mamma T Street Feed Foundation, or phone her at 078 966 9330. If anyone spots this vehicle, please contact SAPS in Mount Road at 082 779 7186.
