Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina on Tuesday launched a food bank to provide relief to dozens of poor and food-insecure families in Gauteng during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Masina said the food bank, located at the Ekurhuleni Fresh Food Market in Springs, will be a single distribution point where relief donations in the City will be received, and then distributed through a ward-based system.
“This development means that as a city we are on our way to ensuring that we prioritize and escalate food provisions to all our most vulnerable groups across the region who in the main are poor and destitute at this difficult period characterized by COVID-19 pandemic,” said Masina.
“This facility will serve as the central distribution point for relief donations in the metro. A ward based system will be implemented for distribution, and additionally the primary beneficiaries will be identified through a rigorous and transparent select process.”
Masina said the beneficiaries of the food bank will be identified through a rigorous and transparent selection process.
He added that the City will not accept cash donations for the central food bank’s relief efforts but only food vouchers, food parcels, clothing and medical supplies.
“We appeal to all our residents and business owners alike to join hands and contribute towards this noble cause by donating vouchers, non-perishable food groceries, clothing, medical suppliers and toiletries that will help all vulnerable and poor communities across our region. We reiterate our call made that cash donations cannot be accepted at the COVID-19 Food Bank,” he said.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura, who officially opened the food bank along with mayor Masina and acting MEC of Social Development Panyaza Lesufi, said food banks are distributing food to over 2000 households with supplies that will last for a full month.
“A big thank you to NPO’s and businesspeople who are supporting our efforts to reach all needy are families. Families that are food in-secure, regardless of race or religion, will receive food relief. The system must be about reaching the 20% of Gauteng residents who are food insecure. There should be no patronage networks and no political interference in all processes,” said Makhura.
(Compiled by Inside Politics staff)
