Food parcels distributed to aid the needy during lockdown
JANE FURSE – Limpopo Premier Chupu Mathabatha distributed food parcels to the needy in Jane Furse on Thursday in response to challenges brought about by the COVID-19 related nationwide lockdown.
Premier Mathabatha received the food parcels from the Polokwane Muslim Welfare Foundation to distribute at identified temporary shelters for homeless people which have been set up across the province in an effort to curb the spread of dreaded COVID-19.
The Polokwane Muslim Welfare Foundation’s move to donate the food parcels was in response to the call made by President Cyril Ramaphosa to assist in any way to fight deadly virus.
Also, the Department of Social Development MEC, Nkakareng Rakgoale also distributed 5000 food parcels to families that have been identified through the help of social workers and community development practitioners across the province.
According to the department the distribution of the food parcels was prompted by the fact that some families were currently struggling to make ends meet due to the lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MEC Rakgoale said in collaboration with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), municipalities and the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) they have managed to establish 14 temporary shelters across the province, where they were accommodating about seven hundred homeless people.
Rakgoale said different stakeholders that included businesses, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and individuals who understood there was a need for them to join hands with government in providing for vulnerable people made the food parcels available.
“The donations that have been made by Good Samaritans will really go a long way in augmenting the provision of food at temporary shelters. On behalf of the Department of Social Development, I want to take this opportunity and thank everyone who contributed to enable us to fully respond to the COVID-19 regulations that have been put in place to ensure that we curb the spread of the virus,” said Rakgoale.
The MEC said it was also important to continue to urge people to stay at home and ensure they did not travel unnecessarily as it was known movement of people had been identified as the main contributor to the spread of Coronavirus.
She said over and above all assistance, they deployed teams of psychosocial support to offer necessary assistance to the infected and affected persons and their families.
“The team also monitors the implementation of precautionary measures by all service providers and Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs0 providing social services during this period,” concluded Rakgoale.
Families that are in dire need and have not yet been assessed by the department’s officials are urged to call 071 609 9090 in order for the department to provide social workers to conduct an assessment and verification.
