Solidarity Fund distributes food parcels to over 250 000 families
JOHANNESBURG – The Solidarity Fund is set to distribute food parcels to over 250 000 household across South Africa.
The Solidarity Fund has begun distributing food parcels to over 250 000 families nationwide.
In collaboration with the Department of Social Development (DSD), four major non-profit organisations and faith and community-based organisations, the fund has made R120-million available for food relief.
The fund, which currently sits at R2.3-billion, was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 23 March in response to the Covid-19 virus outbreak in South Africa.
Interim CEO of the Solidarity Fund Nomkhita Nqweni said that Covid-19 has exacerbated the challenge of food insecurity in the country.
“The need for social distancing means school feeding schemes and government food distribution centres have not been operating. Combine that with incomes lost for people in the informal sector and there is an acute crisis,” she said.
With the help of a multifaceted strategy, more than 250 000 households will be reached.
“Through continuous engagement with multiple stakeholders, including key members of government and civil society, we have, in just over a week, planned and are executing a food distribution intervention on an enormous scale,” added Nqweni.
A portion of the funds made available will contribute to the reactivation of the department’s distribution networks, providing relief for 58 000 highly vulnerable households, many of which are located in underserviced locations.
An additional 146 000 households will be reached through partnerships with non-profits and various faith and community-based organisations.
According to Nqweni the food parcels can sustain a family for two to four weeks depending on the size of the household.
The introduction of a voucher system will further augment the distribution impact.
“The decision as to which households will receive the parcels, as well as the physical distribution, will be undertaken by the DSD, NPOs and faith-based community-based organisations through their established networks,” Nqweni said.
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