Yolanda Isaacks * ( 9 ), Jessica Jacobs * ( 8 ), and Steven Witbooi * ( 6 ) wander around the shebeens and bars of the Dordabis settlement , collecting empty liquor bottles in exchange for vetkoek , bread crumbs , and ice lollies to feed themselves . The Grade 1 , 2 , and 3 pupils at Dordabis Primary School , located 87 kilometres from Windhoek , are among the many children in the settlement , under the Windhoek Rural Constituency , who collect empty bottles daily to feed themselves . Speaking to Nampa on Tuesday while holding her two empty bottles which she will exchange for a vetkoek , Isaacks said she collects bottles after school every day to feed herself , as most of the time , there is nothing to eat at home . She explained that her mother does not work , making it difficult for them to have meals every day . Each bottle is worth 50 cents , while a vetkoek costs N . dollars 1 . The commodity exchange varies , with a packet of bread crumbs mixed with sugar costing N . dollars 1 , a tamaletjie ( homemade
sweet ) costing 50 cents , and ice lollies costing N . dollars 1 . Witbooi explained that on a daily basis , he mostly collects two bottles , which are equivalent to N . dollars 1 , enough for a vetkoek . Bar attendant Anna Hainyeko said they face the challenge of having to chase away minors from the bar , who collect bottles from customers , every day . ‘ We tell them not to come here [ to the bar ], but they still come … You keep chasing them ,’ said Hainyeko . Nampa observed that the children wander around the shebeens , waiting for customers to finish their drinks before collecting the bottles directly from them , with some customers willingly giving the bottles , while others see the children grabbing the empty bottles and running away . Rosa Games ( 50 ) bakes vetkoek every day , filling two 20 – litre containers to feed the children in exchange for empty bottles , ice lollies , homemade fudge , and bread crumbs mixed with sugar . She told Nampa that children are dying of hunger in Dordabis , which is w
hy they are selling empty liquor bottles in exchange for food . ‘ Sometimes they come here with only one bottle , which is 50 cents , but I still give them a vetkoek because I can see they are hungry … They only know porridge , but what do they eat the porridge with ? There is no milk , and sometimes there ‘ s no porridge ,’ she fumed . Games explained that the majority of the youth and parents in the settlement are unemployed , leaving the children to wander on their own in search of food . She noted that the community does receive drought relief food , consisting of maize meal and 750ml cooking oil ; however , it is barely enough as one household can have more than 10 people . ‘ The government should help us so we can help the children . The children don ‘ t even bathe , their hands are dirty , and they eat with those hands . They have no clothes … They need help ,’ she said .
Source: The Namibia News Agency