Lily Geerds, the founder of the non-governmental organisation, HeadStart Kids, says when the community collaborates as companies and partners, the impact thereof, when everyone unite, can limit and ease the damage that has unfolded in the past two weeks. 

The Bloemfontein Rotary Club and Best Foods decided to join Volvo Bloemfontein's initiative in giving back to those in need in KwaZulu-Natal by donating milk, porridge and baby formula.

"I always ask people, as adults, to try and go one day without food. Now you expect a grown baby to literally go [through] a day with one meal because there is no food available, recources are really limited there and it's not their fault. It's not their fault that adults in their environment have made these decisions. We can't impact every single one of them, but by being proactive we can make a difference," Geerds says.

Carmen Nel, member of the Bloemfontein Rotary Club, says she was shocked when she saw what was left after the looting took place. Nel says with donations such as milk, these small gestures can spark the flame the province desperately needs towards its rebuilding phase.

"Rotary Club comes from a service point of view, we go and try to assist our fellow human beings and we felt that we wanted to be part of this great initiative to help the suffering people. All the members decided to chip in and donate milk," Nel says.

According to SABCnews.com, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry says the protests and looting from the last two weeks will have a huge impact on the image of South Africa as an investment destination. The damage  will also have a negative impact on the economy, which was already struggling. 

OFM News/Blaine Jones