Retailer Pick n Pay stepped in to help Western Cape communities affected by extreme weather conditions over the weekend.

Trees were uprooted, houses destroyed, vehicles blown over and fires fanned by strong winds, while electricity infrastructure was also damaged causing widespread outages.

Pick n Pay mobilised teams to assist some of those impacted and have been visiting the Paarl area since Monday handing out hundreds of hot meals for affected people, both young and old.

More than 100 displaced residents of Groenheuwel were served a hot meal of mince, macaroni, mixed vegetables and juice after their houses burnt to the ground on Saturday. The affected people, including adults and children, are being housed at the Groenhewel library.

Families at New Orleans Park were also served meals, while 100 hot dogs were handed out to the homeless in the Bergrivier area. On Tuesday, the Pick n Pay team continued to lend support with soup and bread donated by Blue Ribbon, to members of the Kayamandi community in Stellenbosch who were affected by the extreme weather conditions.

“It has been heart-breaking to witness the devastation wrought by wind and fire, leaving homes damaged or destroyed. Yet, amidst despair, it's remarkable to see the resilience of communities, finding solace in something as simple as a hot meal. At our stores, we are deeply committed to supporting our surrounding communities every day. However, in times of disaster, this commitment intensifies. We believe in lending a hand and doing good wherever we can. We stand ready to assist authorities and aid efforts, ensuring that support reaches those who need it most during this challenging time,” says Vaughan Pierce, head of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) at Pick n Pay.

Pick n Pay customers who would like to contribute to those impacted can donate non-perishable goods into trolleys at the entrance of stores around the Western Cape.