A non-profit organisation, Ntokozweni Food Bank, delivered a massive amount of food parcels and cleaning materials to more than 150 homeless people housed at De Villiershof in Sunnyside on Wednesday.
The food parcels consisted of among other things, rice, maize meal, sugar, cooking oil, beans, fish, packets of soups, flour as well as cleaning materials including dishwasher and bath soaps which were all loaded in a four-ton truck.
“Our job is to hand over the food parcels to vulnerable members of the community from time to time,” Ntokozweni Foodbank representative Fridah Sibulela said.
Sibulela who was leading the distribution team said they followed a certain process to ensure that the food is received by the needy.
“We often receive a list of the needy from the councillors and social workers before conducting our assessment to verify the information that is presented to us. During the assessment, we also check if vulnerable people have matric certificates to help them find jobs or develop their skills,” she said.
One of the beneficiaries, Masechaba Lenkoane, said she was grateful to receive the food parcels.
“I did not know what I would eat tonight without this food, thanks to the people who remembered that some people in this country are hungry and in need of food,” Lenkoane said in tears.
She said the lack of job opportunities made her life difficult.
“I do not work and am in desperate need of employment.”
Living in the De Villiershof is difficult since it does not have running water and toilets, Lenkoane said.
“We are living here because we do not have money to find an alternate place.”
Photo: Ron Sibiya
Ward 81 Councillor Mpho Lewele said as community leaders they believe the needy should receive food to ease the pain of hunger, which he believes leads to crime.
“We are doing our best to make sure that these people get food,” Lewele said.
He said they were not only donating food to the needy but wanted to help them find jobs to provide for themselves.
He thanked the residents who worked with him in identifying the needy in the area.
On the issue of lack of water in the building, Lewele said the building did not have water because of vandalism.
He said the government housed homeless people at the De Villiershof building during the beginning of lockdown since no one was allowed to roam the streets.
“Water and sanitation were provided by a service provider but its contract has not been renewed.”
“We are negotiating for the appointment of another service provider because the building is currently not in a suitable condition to accommodate people.”
Sunnyside police also made an appearance, warning people about gender-based violence (GBV).
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Addressing the gathering, Warrant Officer Asnath Malatsi urged De Villiershof’s residents to report GBV incidents to the police.
“We are appealing to the people who experience GBV to come forward and report it,” she said.
She said the station had a victim empowerment centre that works together with relevant stakeholders, such as non-profit organisations, to address GBV.
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