A GROUP of Durban Metro Police officers recently went a step further in their duties and bought food for grant recipients queueing at the Post Office.
The officers who refer to themselves as “Team Toyota” because of their cars said they were distressed by the long queues at the Post Office on West Street.
Ever since the government announced Social Relief Distress or Covid-19 R350 grants for unemployed people, there have been long lines at Post Offices around the country where the money is collected.
“We put our heads together to see how we can help our community who usually show us love and support when we have our convoys,” said Mthokozisi Gumede.
Gumede said they identified people who are Covid-19 grant recipients because it was clear they were unemployed and needed a bit more help.
“We thought it would be a good thing to give them something to eat and drink while they stand in the long queues. It’s beautiful what the government is doing and we are just trying to follow up on that and close those small gaps,” he said.
The Covid-19 grants which were introduced in March last year are set to expire at the end of January this year, according to the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).
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However, President Cyril Ramaphosa, speaking in his capacity as leader of the African National Congress, said in multiple media interviews the ruling party has passed a resolution to extend the grant beyond January.
Gumede said since they expect the grants to expire this year, they will be going directly to people’s homes to provide relief.
“We are targeting orphanages, creches, homes where children are in need of nappies and anywhere else where there are people in need and we can give them something to take home and eat,” said Gumede.
“We need to go back to the old system of neighbourly support where if your neighbour was struggling you’d lend them your cattle and once they have enough cattle they bring it back and pay it forward to the next neighbour.”
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