ICYMI: Thousands flock to Olievenhoutbosch to receive food parcels
Thousands of people gathered in Olievenhoutbosch to receive food parcels on 2 May.
Thousands of residents flocked to Olievenhoutbosch on Saturday (2 May) to receive food parcels.
Pictures surfaced on social media with huge crowds of people waiting in line to receive food parcels. According to the Sowetan, the food parcels were donated by the Mahlasedi foundation. Senior pastor at the 3C church, Bert Pretorius, who worked with the foundation, told Sowetan that the large crowds were due to misinformation as someone said that Saturday would be the last day to receive the parcels.
Pretorius said that more than 20 000 people had arrived in the area to collect food parcels, however, many people were from outside the area and not eligible for food parcels, contributing to the chaos.
Lindela Mashigo, spokesperson for the Tshwane Metro Police Department, told the Centurian Rekord, “The Tshwane Metro police and authorities are on scene whenever these handouts are done to ensure that people practice social distancing…However, it is difficult and we do understand that the residents are hungry and don’t often have the means to wear masks.”
Panyaza Lesufi, the MEC for Education and Youth Development visited the area and said that the government is beginning to put the mechanisms in place to release the R350 grant for those who are unemployed. “That is the only way to ensure that people get money so they can go buy food on their own.
“I want to thank the foundation for the donation and the community leaders for the arrangements they have made but unfortunately the numbers are huge.”
Hundreds & hundreds of individuals in Olievenhoutbosch in long queues for food parcels. Why dont they deliver food to the needy at their homes. No social distancing can be managed in such very long queues & some of them been waiting since last night .#Day37oflockdown #Level4
— Iam _PVP (@phenyovp1) May 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/Ruraltarain/status/1256568597100531712
Our president warned us about gathering,but look now the situation in olievenhoutbosch. pic.twitter.com/rERNtj5qHx
— RAMS DE Laan (@RamsLaan) May 2, 2020
Situation right now Olievenhoutbosch Centurion #foodparcels #COVID19SouthAfrica #COVID__19 #Lockdownlevel4 pic.twitter.com/2uTIIuKpZI
— Sedibe (@mogale_mst) May 2, 2020
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