Many are faced with financial difficulties during the nationwide lockdown and are not able to provide food or essentials for their families during this difficult time. LottoStar and East Coast Radio a providing a helping hand by contributing a share of R1 million to families in need. The 100 families will receive an electronic R10 000 voucher each redeemable at their nearest retailers. These are the first five families that were nominated to receive a share of the R1 Million contribution from LottoStar and East Coast Rdaio FM:

Recipient 1, Kerry Pentz

The first recipient of R10 000 in the LottoStar and East Coast Radio 100 household’s initiative is Kerry Pentz. The Pentz family have been struggling financially for the last few years and their situation has continued to escalate. The lockdown has now left the family in an impossible position. Kerry husband who is a church pastor lost his job a few a years ago and is currently doing woodwork from home, he planned on travelling to the US to spray weeds for a contractor, however, it had to be put on hold due to the covid -19 pandemic. Kerry runs a graphic design business from home but due to the lockdown she was not able to bring in any income for the month of March. To add to this, the family was involved in a terrible accident last year, fortunately they were not injured but their car was written off. The Pentz family are in dire straits, financially and need assistance. Rob Caskie who is a friend of the family nominated Kerry Pentz.

Recipient 2, Gideon Msabala

Gideon Msabala is the second recipient of R10 000 in the LottoStar and East Coast Radio 100 household’s initiative. Gideon is a Gardner and is the breadwinner for a family of seven, he was nominated by his employer, Colin Wardell. Prior to the lockdown the family took Gideon to his home in Boyboi and provided him with a food and vegetable hamper as well as a bottle of hand sanitiser and some extra money for him and his family. However, Colin fears that Gideon and his family have run out of food and essentials as he is not earning an income due to the lockdown.

Recipient 3, Sahil

Sahil is one the recipients of R10 000 in the LottoStar and East Coast Radio 100 household’s initiative. Sahil works as an admin Clerk at Maxwell Carpets and he is financially supporting his parents during this trying time. Unfortunately, Sahil was notified that he would not be getting paid during the lockdown period, he is now left without an income for three weeks and will not be able to meet his expenses. Sahil was nominated by Mumtaz Adam.

Recipient 4, Jacintha Perumal

Jacintha and her husband are unfortunately not working through the lockdown period. Jacintha’s company will be paying her using her leave, but she only has 4 days leave, her husband does not have permanent job and was only able to work for two weeks in March. Jacintha’s salary is the only steady income in their home as her husband has been working par-time for the past year. Therefore, she has to be sole provider for their 3 kids and her mother in law but she has not received a salary this month due to the lockdown. The family is in desperate need of financial support during this time. Jacintha and her family will receive R10 000 in the LottoStar and East Coast Radio 100 household’s initiative. Jacintha Permual was nominated by Nicolene Pather.

Recipient 5, Rajesh Veraragavalo

Rajesh Veraragavalo is one of the recipients of R10 000, he was nominated Reenie Naidoo. 47-year-old, Rajesh, is a single father and receives a disability pension of R1700 each month which is barely enough to cover his and son’s living expenses. Rajesh works on a casual basis, however, the income he receives from this is not enough and he cannot afford school fees or uniforms for his son.