55 Families

Everyone knows me for my fitness videos, but this one is going to be something I care deeply about. 55 people and their families need help and are in distress. I am trying to raise some money to help them keep their livelihood.

Let me give you the backstory.

This year has brought much sadness to many people. I am not alone in this and my heart goes out to each and every person out there who is suffering as a result of this crazy Covid-19 year from hell.

Now this “55 families” project is about 55 people who is the breadwinner in their homes. All of them works for a family operated company “Cape Cuisine” located here in Cape Town, South Africa. I’ve had close contact with this company for many, many years and I am also a trustee for them. So, I really know these people well. They’ve become like family over the past 24 years. With Covid-19 arrival, this company (like all others here in South Africa) were forced to close down for months. Huge stock losses, outstanding accounts, costs running up and non-payment of clients (who are also suffering) resulted in large amounts owned to suppliers. Should this not get settled soon, it could have disastrous effect for all the employees and their families. Many businesses received help from the government in South Africa, but unfortunately only those companies who are black owned or the majority stakeholder is black. White owned companies were all excluded from government relief packages for Covid-19. So, this “55 families” company got no financial help whatsoever from the government and they are in serious distress.

Now, somewhere in life, each of us must decide to be more to the people around us than just another face in the crowd. We need to stand up, start caring about something and then do everything we can to help. This is my bit to make a difference in 55 family’s lives. I want to ensure that these 55 families have a secured job and income for the future. I am fighting for their household income.

This “55 families” project company supply the restaurant and hotel trade in Cape Town and surrounds, which is the trade that’s been hit hardest by Covid-19. On top of that South Africa had the longest and strictest lockdown in the world.

My plea to you is to help me reach the target for the project. We can save the household income for 55 families. My heart is broken for them. Some of them had to be temporarily retrenched and most are on short time with just part salary payout. They struggle to find enough food to feed their families. Some even lost their homes and places they stay. Imagine having to move your family into a 3m x 3m cramped Wendy houses into someone’s backyard! I promised them I would do everything in my power so that they can be re-employed, and their salaries normalized. I am FIGHTING for them. Here I am asking you to PLEASE make a donation to the GoFundMe project. Help me to reach the target goal. Before Covid-19 this was a very healthy company. Reaching the goal will result in the company surviving and allowing them to re-employ most of the retrenched workers.

The target amount is equal to the amount owed to suppliers due to Covid-19 fall-out. The bottom line is, Covid-19 has had a financial impact of $148,000 US (R 2,400,000.00 in South African terms) on this family business which needs to be urgently settled to normalize the business.

24 years ago, I was one of the cofounders of this company and me and wife started this company with only $1020 US to our name. We worked 7 days a week and got home most of the times at midnight just to get up at 5am the next morning. This is our life’s work. Our hearts and love have been poured into this business and we love our workers. We consider them family. Although I have moved on and do online fitness coaching now, my heart and soul is with these people and cannot see them suffering like this.

I thank each of you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to watch this video. If you are not in a position to support our cause then I ask that you lay our company WWW.CAPECUISINE.COM before God. May God bless each and everyone of you. It is a rough ride currently, but I for one, will keep the faith!

Gert Louw