Food parcels ‘not for social grant beneficiaries’
Acting Gauteng Social Development MEC Panyaza Lesufi says social grant recipients do not qualify for the food parcels handed out to the poor and vulnerable during the Covid-19 crisis.
Lesufi briefed media on Wednesday morning, where he received a donation of 10 000 food parcels in Booysens.
"Our target was people who don't get social grants. People who don't earn anything and for those that are sick and vulnerable.
"We don't want them to be crowded by people who say they've been locked down for 21 days, I don't have a salary and therefore I need something now. We want it to be systematic and start with those that are vulnerable and will remain vulnerable beyond 21 days."
"If we have enough support we will then take care of those that are going through difficulties because of the performance of the economy," he added.
#FoodParcels Lesufi says the food parcels are not for social grant recipients. pic.twitter.com/PdgpY1b1da
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) April 15, 2020
The department has also awarded an R80 million food parcel tender as part of efforts to cushion the poor during the coronavirus pandemic.
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It has also received additional funding from national government and the Solidarity Fund.
"Today we are receiving stock of over R2.5 million and this excludes the Department of Social Development,” said Lesufi.
"The Department of Social Development has just awarded a tender of food parcels that is worth R80 million. So we have put R80 million as a provincial government to fight poverty.
"On top of the R80 million set aside for food parcels alone, we received a letter from the national Department of Social Development that together with the Solidarity Fund will give us R43 million to fight poverty in our province.”
The Department donated close to 2000 food parcels on Tuesday, however Lesufi says the target is to distribute 5000 food parcels a day.