Reiger Park received 200 food parcels from the Ekurhuleni Food Bank on May 8 and the team involved distributed the food aid to its beneficiaries this week. A total of 140 parcels were distributed on Tuesday and the rest was distributed on Wednesday morning.
Reiger Park community forum spokesperson David Forster said the team is following strict food parcel distribution guidelines, which are meant to eliminate the element of corruption and prevent people from taking more than their share in the process, as this would mean taking away from another vulnerable families.
“We have all come to agreement that there is a greater need for all of us (community leaders and government) to work together in the distribution of relief to our community,” said Foster.
He said the food distribution is carried out in gradual stages to avoid large crowds that can in turn impede social distancing.
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This is how it works: Firstly, a beneficiary receives a call to collect their food parcel. A unique reference number is given during the call. Residents collecting their food parcels are required to bring their ID and quote a reference number.
Members of the Reiger Park SAPS are also present at the distribution site where they help do random screening before recipients enter the venue to collect their food items.
Working together
According to the team, which consists of the ward councillor, community forums, NGOs, politicians and faith-based organisations, they set aside their political differences and agreed to work together in supporting struggling residents in the face of the pandemic.
“We all agreed that these are uncertain times for all and had to take unprecedented action and work together to assist the poor and vulnerable families, instead of self-serving personal and political drives.”
“I’m very happy with the collective effort by our local structures during this difficult period. Everyone is committed to supporting the poor, and apart from the food parcels from government, we have already seen many local organisations reaching out to support the vulnerable by collecting and dropping off supplies, and I’m confident that residents and businesses will continue working hard to help and support everyone they can,” said Ward 34 councillor Charlie Crawford.
The team urges food parcel applicants who have met the Ekurhuleni Food Bank criteria to ensure their availability during the distribution period.
Accused of food parcel corruption
Communities in Boksburg, Reiger Park and the informal settlements in particular, have accused the metro and politicians of politicising the distribution of food parcels.
But the mayor of Ekurhuleni, Mzwandile Masina, has denied the allegations, saying the metro is simply following the required food parcels distribution procedures, and that the processes adopted by the metro to distribute food parcels is legitimate and verifiable.Masina also pointed out that under the lockdown, the metro had by May 8 already donated over 12 000 food parcels to communities, and have committed to distribute at least 50 000 food parcels to poor families during these difficult times.
Families left vulnerable by Covid-19
The lockdown has left many vulnerable South African families unable to meet their basic needs.
Self-employed Percy Mabaso, who lives in Angelo informal settlement and runs a small salon business in the informal settlement, has lost her source of income as her business was forced to close down due to the lockdown.
“Early in April we put our names down for food parcels on lists that were handed over to the councillor who then submitted them to the municipality and provincial government on our behalf, but all the people who had applied have not received any food from the government.
“We have seen so many people on the news receiving food parcels in other areas, but here many of us have not received anything.”
The Ward 33 DA councillor, Ashley Hoods, confirmed that in his ward more than 2 000 poor families applied for food parcels through the ward committee and him, but none of the applicants have received food parcels.
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Responding to our questions regarding this matter, the mayor, however, said the procedure to apply for food parcels entails individually visiting the municipal offices to apply. After verification, if you meet the criteria needed to qualify for food parcels, your food gets delivered.
