Local family receives expired food as donation
Social Development has urged families in need to contact the provincial food bank.
LIMPOPO – Families who are in need of food parcels are advised to get into contact with the provincial food bank, while food donors are advised to consult with Social Development on the type of foodstuffs needed.
This came after a family who resides on a plot along the Leeukuil area on the Matlala road, recently received food that had expired. The mother, who lost her job at the beginning of lockdown, was given the number of a group of residents who had been distributing food parcels to those in need.
“As a family of seven, we were thrilled to receive these parcels as my husband’s salary is barely enough to cover rent, electricity and his fuel to get to work,” she said.
She said they did not think to check the expiry date of the food, and only noticed something was amiss when her daughter, who was heating a tin ofspaghetti, said it did not smell right.
“We then realised that it had expired. We were still grateful though, because in our minds we still had more groceries.”
After inspecting the rest of the food parcels, they came across a tin of fish and chakalaka that had expired a year ago. The rest of the items, she says, were fed to animals because they didn’t want to simply throw it away. “I do not want to sound ungrateful, but it is embarrassing enough to have to depend on a food parcel. Realising that you were given expired food is humiliating. It was sad to have to get rid of the food because we really needed it.”
The family has since not received another parcel.
“It is difficult for a family of seven to depend on one salary that can’t even cover groceries. We have been relying on neighbours and strangers who have been donating the little they can to us.”
Spokesperson for the Department of Social Development, Witness Tiva says the department has established a provincial food bank which is available at district and local level to alleviate challenges such as expired food being given to the needy.
“We urge organisations and individuals who wish to donate to donate through the food bank, where the department will be able to advise on the kind of food to donate and ensure the food is safe for human consumption.” He says a team consisting of the department’s district heads, social workers, Sassa, community development practitioners and community development workers are working tirelessly in identifying vulnerable households.
Tiva also requested the details of the family in order to assist them in receiving a food parcel from the department’s food bank.
Requirements needed to be considered for a food parcel:
• Being a South African citizen
• A lapse in temporary disability grants
• Beneficiaries not receiving social grants due to fraudulent transactions or failed bank verification
• Awaiting payment of approved grants
• A household affected by disaster
• A monthly household income of R3 600 or less.
