LAUNCHED last month, the City of uMhlathuze’s food bank has received tons of food donations thanks to the support of the business community for the social relief scheme helping communities during the lockdown.
Last week, Mayor Mduduzi Mhlongo received donations from Tronox, Fleet Horizon, Dunlop SA and Pick n Pay Meerensee, with more contributions expected from Mondi SA, South32 and other companies in the region.
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Mhlongo said the food bank will continue after the national lockdown.
‘Poverty and hunger among large sections of our community existed before the Covid-19 pandemic, and will continue thereafter.
‘We are grateful to our social partners who have contributed thus far and look forward to their continued support.
‘The initial batch of more than 2 000 food packs was distributed without any problems and all 34 ward councillors received allocations.’
Mhlongo said the the food bank is overseen by an administrative team and stringent procedures are in place to manage the process.
‘An operational centre was established to ensure all records are kept accurately. It was also to ensure the list of beneficiaries are compared to the beneficiary lists from other government departments and agencies such as SASSA and the Department of Social Development.
‘We do not want to donate food to families already benefiting from other government programmes, which is double dipping. The team is also working with the Speaker’s office to investigate complaints.’
Complaints addressed
The city has investigated some grievances raised about food distribution.
‘We have closed all cases after finding that most of the complainants were from people who did not qualify for benefits, while some were known members of political parties being opportunistic,’ said Mhlongo.
‘We have noted a campaign targeting some of our councillors, dragging their good names through the mud, using food parcels distribution as leverage.
‘Some councillors had their own initiatives of collecting and distributing food parcels and wanted to tap into the food bank supplies.
• Meanwhile, refuting reports of food stored at sites in Empangeni or Richards Bay having been left to rot, city spokesperson Mdu Ncalane said food is only being stored at the food bank in Alton.
‘While the call is made for non-perishable items, some vegetables have also been received.
‘In the first batch, all veggies that were received were distributed to communities; in the latest batch no vegetables were received,’ said Ncalane.
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