WATCH: Mpumalanga official accused of delivering food parcels to his house

The deputy speaker of Mpumalanga’s provincial legislature, Vusi Mkhatshwa, was accused of delivering food parcels to his house on Tuesday afternoon.

In a video, a man claimed to have captured footage of food parcels being delivered to Mkhatshwa’s home in Extension 9 Barberton by a department of social development (DSD) truck.

The man further claimed that Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) officials were involved in the process.

“Food parcels are being delivered to Vusi Mkhatshwa. It’s very clear; there’s a truck, there’s EPWP people … these people are out of order.

“They are taking food that is meant for the people for themselves and their comrades. These are food parcels meant for the poor,” the man said.

https://twitter.com/AdvoBarryRoux/status/1257762833175101445

Mkhatshwa and the Mpumalanga government are yet to issue comment on the allegations, which have already caused widespread outrage on social media. This article will be updated to reflect their comment once it’s received.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng has called for a change in the distribution of food parcels in the province to reduce the involvement of politicians in the process, as well as opportunities for corruption.

The party urged the provincial government to rather make use of smart vouchers and cash transfers for recipients who are already on the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) database.

“Not only will it reduce corruption but will ensure that the relief reaches intended recipients on time,” the party said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the speaker of Maruleng municipality in the Norman Mashabane region of Limpopo, Joyce Mahlo, was reportedly being investigated for allegedly keeping food parcels for the poor in her house.

Mahlo was also accused by political foes of distributing the food parcels meant for the poor to only African National Congress card-carrying members, cronies and relatives.

(Compiled by Molefe Seeletsa. Background reporting, Makhosandile Zulu & Alex Matlala)

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