As the food bank demand soars, thousands of poor and vulnerable families complain that they have fro weeks been waiting for food parcels from the municipality.
Speaking to the Advertiser during a tour of the food bank in Springs on Friday (May 8), the mayor of Ekurhuleni, Mzwandile Masina, said the metro is not facing any challenge in distributing food parcels to the needy who have registered for such assistance.
“Qualifying beneficiaries are receiving their food parcels and we have so far distributed over 12 000 across the City,” he said.
“The reality is that Ekurhuleni is not Boksburg, it is part of Ekurhuleni and the pressure that is coming from Reiger Park and Ramaphosa is really unfair because we have been distributing in that area.”
Masina said that over 250 food parcels were delivered to the St Anthony’s Day Care Centre for the Aged in Reiger Park.
“The problem is some people are only speaking for themselves and claiming they are representing the community, which is a problem.
“We will continue to ensure that we follow the lists of distribution because you don’t just register and get food. We sent out a team to conduct verification whether or not you qualify to receive the food.”
Verification Process
The mayor, however, admitted that the verification process has been the only issue causing delays, but other than that there is no other challenges.
“Our trucks continue to distribute food without problems. We also have other channels that we use to distribute food. In Boksburg in particular, we have partnered with organisations including churches to distribute food parcels.”
When asked about the thousands of people whose names were added on a list by ward councillors and community leaders, the mayor said in terms of the food bank procedures, there is no process that requires people’s names to be taken.
He said the process that is followed to distribute the food parcels instead requires that people go as individuals to the municipal offices to register themselves. “Once people have registered, we send out our social workers to verify the registration. Once verified, then it’s on that basis that we dispatch a truck to distribute.”
Masina said he has met with one of the councillors from Boksburg who visited the food bank and the process was explained to him.
“People also have to understand that we depend on donations which we then send to communities. The pressure from Boksburg is in my view misdirected because we should be solving what is the best possible way we can work to ensure that food is delivered.
“What we cannot do is to say that we are going to give 8000 parcels to Reiger Park. It’s impossible and unreasonable.”
It is difficult to cope with the growing demand
“We have distributed about 12 000 parcels and clearly that is not enough. There is an outcry for help and we must make sure that we continue to feed the needy and vulnerable.
“This is why I started the initiative as a mayor to ensure there is food relief for our people.
“I know it is not going to help everyone, but our target is to make sure that we reach at least 50 000 households, which I think will help relieve the pressure.
The metro also intends to continue deliver food to those who have already received for the next three months.
“We don’t just come once and then we are gone. But we first have to make sure that you meet the criteria stipulated, because other people who can still afford food are joining the queue looking for food parcels. “This is unfair because this intervention by the metro is for the most vulnerable.
“It’s not a nice to have, and people should understand this intervention from government.
Masina also pointed out that the metro has not used a cent of the municipality’s money because they had not budgeted for Covid-19.
“It was going to be impossible to work outside of the budget.
“Fortunately we have received support from businesses and NGOs who are making contributions.”
He said the food bank does not accept money, only accepts food items.
“We direct people to wholesalers where they can buy items and come to donate.”
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Also Read: Ward councillors there to facilitate registration for food parcels
