Rural community left out of food relief support

VANDERBIJLPARK. – Ruralites have come out with guns blazing as they feel that they are being overlooked by the distributors of food parcels, particularly the Department of Social Development (DSD).
They believe that food parcels are being distributed in townships at the cost of other community members who live elsewhere. They also said that they are unsure whether they are expected to go to food parcel distribution points, but at the end of it all, the result remains that they get nothing.
The community of Nanescol near Vanderbijlpark, has said that food parcels are distributed in the townships because of politics.
Elias Motsoeneng of Rosashof said that the only time ruralites are visited by party political officials is when it is time for them to register to vote. His sentiment was echoed by Madgeline Mofokeng (76) of Mirrir Vasl, who alleged that they are also only visited by Home Affairs when it is time for them to register for identity documents.
White ruralites say they are especially left out of food parcels because they don’t participate in politics.
When asked whether they receive food parcels they unanimously said “Fokol”.
Many of them currently receive donations of food and other items only from local churches and good Samaritans.
Nick van Schalkwyk of Mullerstuin said that they have tried every channel to access food relief, to no avail.
“We continue to get nothing,” he said.
No sensible information was forthcoming from Thabiso Hlongwane, from the office of the MEC for Social Development. He said ruralites who feel wronged by the state can always approach their nearest Social Development Offices for information.
Hlongwane said that as far as he knew, his department has already approached offices in most of the rural areas.