Thousands of people have been fed through the Tamatie Party project by entertainer and activist Soli Philander and his partner Sharon van Schoor, who eight weeks ago started distributing hundreds of tomatoes in various communities, following generous donations by a Boland farmer.
The duo forms part of a team called Extreme Soupathon where they cook soup and feed impoverished communities daily.
Sharon says: “We were gifted tomatoes by a farmer in Paarl and then we started delivering directly to our communities and after that we branched out and made contact with bigger organisations.
“One of the organisations we provide for in Rylands feed more than 1.7 million people through 60 organisations. They don't get much assistance from others, they have support from friends and family.”
She says the curfew – from 9pm to 5am – has impacted their operations so they have to move around fast.
“The Tamatie Party has now grown to become the Veggie Party, because we have added more vegetables to the project. Other farmers heard about this [initiative] and are also now donating.”
The donations include tomatoes, cucumber, green peppers and leeks.
Soli says: “The Tamatie Party has been an extraordinary exercise in South Africaness, the farmers have impacted communities with this donation of love.”
Sharon says seeing the gratitude and joy on people’s faces is a “humbling experience”.
Soli and Sharon make their rounds on the Cape Flats followed by a truck filled with veggies.
Tomato 🍅 Party. Make the circle bigger!!
Posted by Extreme Soupathon onFriday, January 8, 2021
They distribute in, among others, Delft, Mitchells Plain, Athlone, Hanover Park, Manenberg and Bellville.
Soli adds: “If people want to be part of our donation list, message us on the Extreme Soupathon page on Facebook.”