Gospel singer Deborah Fraser is following the footsteps of Mother Teresa in the music industry by providing food parcels for South African artists. Fraser said the idea to help, came to her when the national lockdown began at the end of March.
Fraser got the vegetables from her own farm and the handing over of the food parcels took place in Newtown, Johannesburg. She has donated about 100 food parcels to artists with the help of Bishop David Ramela of St Paul African Church.
Some of the artists who benefited included Omama Besxaxa, Vicky Vilakazi, Buselaphi Gxowa, Khululiwe Sithole, Nkululeko Khanye, Buhle Nhlangulela, Patricia Majalisa, Phila Madlingozi, Phumi Maduna and Dumza Maswana, among others.
“I started by creating a database of artists in South Africa and I had about 300. Since then I have been supporting some of them with vegetables from my farm. And when we slaughter something, I also share the meat with them,” said Fraser.
Gospel singer, Vicky Vilakazi said Fraser has set a good example to artists that they should not always expect to receive but also to give to others.“When you are giving artists something you are not giving to that artist alone, you are giving to a community. Artists are bread-winners too and behind them they are carrying families, not only immediate families, but extended families. What Debra did was good work of kindness,” commented Vilakazi.
“I realized that it was not enough, I needed to do something to assist the artists” said Fraser. She approached Bishop Ramela after knocking in many doors in the Gauteng municipality without success. He pledged to help with food parcels for 100 people. I was surprised myself when I saw the size and volumes of food he organized for artists,” added Fraser.
Maskandi singer Buselaphi Gxowa, who also benefited from the parcels, could not stop praising Fraser and Ramela.“The grocery we received is making a big difference to me and my family. I want to thank Sis Debra and the bishop for thinking about us. I also want to thank Mam Bathabile Dlamini who has organized vouchers for artists to buy groceries”.
