The COVID-19 global pandemic has devastated many communities in terms of food security and livelihoods all over Namibia. To assist with their local community, Walvis Bay Salt Refiners  recently donated 10,000 much needed basic meals to alleviate the plight of the elderly and most vulnerable citizens of the coastal town.

‘’Walvis Bay Salt Refiners has been a corporate citizen of Walvis Bay for more than 55 years. We are part of the fibre and heritage of this town. In times of a crisis such as this, we cannot stand by idly and see our vulnerable community members suffer,” says Andre Snyman, Managing Director of Walvis Bay Salt Holdings.

Much-needed basic meal ingredients (such as maize meal, sugar, bread flour, yeast, cooking oil, tins of fish, soup packets, coffee and tea) were packed into 20kg parcels, enough to prepare roughly 10,000 meals.

Some of the food parcels were handed over to the Office of the Mayor of Walvis Bay on 12 May, which will be distributed to the homeless and destitute citizens living in shacks. This forms part of the ongoing drive by the Office of the Mayor through the Mayoral Relief Fund for assistance from the private sector to address the most pressing social needs during Covid-19. Food parcels were also handed to Huis Palms old age home and His House Care Centre, a convalescent home that cares for underprivileged and elderly people.

As a producer of a basic and essential foodstuff such as table salt, Walvis Bay Salt Refiners were allowed to continue with operations during the various lockdown stages, implementing strict precautionary measures to safeguard all its stakeholders against the potential spread of Covid-19.

“As one of the largest producers of solar sea salt in sub-Saharan Africa, we have to ensure that we comply with the most stringent health and safety protocols. For example, most of South Africa’s drinking water is treated with salt from Walvis Bay Salt Refiners, so we have to keep on supplying into this market in order to ensure sufficient good quality drinking water,” Snyman added.

Fortunately, the company’s international export business has not been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Contributed by Walvis Bay Salt Holdings