Eddie Thompson, founder and coordinator of The Upliftment Project, a non-profit organisation (NPO) based in Woodstock, had to helplessly stand by and watch as his delivery vehicle went up in flames in what he believes to be an arson attack.
The NPO has been in existence for the past 10 years and provides food to disadvantaged people in and around Woodstock. It also has 49 satellite kitchens around the city.
Thompson says he was woken up in the early hours of the morning on Friday 26 May by noises outside his home.
He says his Volkswagen Caddy was parked outside in the street.
“My wife woke me up at 04:00 and told me I must come and see our vehicle is burning. I went outside and saw small sparks inside the car but I could see the smoke coming out. When I tried to open the vehicle with the remote, it would not open.
“When I got to the driver’s side, I saw that the window crumbled to pieces, but I realised that someone threw something through the window. The sparks were coming from between the seat and the dashboard.”
He says he and his wife tried to extinguish the fire.
“We were too slow to douse the flames. Some people stopped and helped. The emergency services arrived and they doused the flames. Then later, the fire brigade came and they also did that. The car is a write off.”
Thompson says the vehicle is their only means of transport to service the vulnerable.
“We distribute meals to people in need.
“During Covid, we delivered 1,5 million meals in and around Woodstock. Thanks to the support of our people, during the peak of the lockdown, we were able to provide 700 to 1 000 meals a day. The need is still great. We help supply pre-made (Halaal) meals, which include soup, biryani, sandwiches and breakfast ingredients to people in and around Woodstock.
“Every day, we collect the leftover food from Spar which we share amongst the three children’s homes and single mothers in the area. Our van is much needed.”
Thompson says he believes his vehicle was set alight.
“Who would do something like this? The fact that the window was broken, means that there must have been some criminality involved. My wife said she saw someone running away by the time she opened the door.”
Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City’s Fire and Rescue Service, confirmed the incident: “It would appear that an unknown person set the vehicle alight.”
Thompson says he has a passion to serve the community and explains that during the Covid-19 pandemic he transformed his carpentry workshop into a feeding kitchen.
“We also have a skills development programme where I teach boys from the two boys’ school in the area how to do woodwork and how to work with tools.”
He says the organisation is always in need of funds and calls on the government to do more to support organisations.
“Both national and provincial governments do not even have a roll-out plan with the children’s homes. Some children don’t even have shoes. Monies are not shared with organisations like ours. It’s an on-going mission to get funding.”
According to Col Delven Matroos, Woodstock Police Station commander, no case has been opened yet.
- To donate visit https://pay.yoco.com/please-donate-to-the-upliftment-project
