Gauteng MEC’s food parcel cuts spark NPO protests
Critics say the move will disrupt services, increase hardship for impoverished families, and worsen social problems in hard-to-reach communities. Calls grow for urgent reversal to protect vulnerable children and families.
NPOs across Ekurhuleni are up in arms following a controversial decision by Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Faith Mazibuko, to cut the critical food parcel component from NPO programmes in the children sector, particularly those serving vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS.
They expressed their frustration by protesting at the Germiston Social Development office on June 19 and submitting a memorandum.
The department plans to centralise food distribution under a single, province-wide food bank system, a decision many believe is logistically flawed and socially damaging.
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The Department of Social Development argues that a central food bank will improve coordination and reduce duplication.
But Zodwa Latola from Break-Through Centre, one of the NGOs, said this model is not only impractical, it is dangerous for those living in poverty-stricken and hard-to-reach communities.
“Services need to be closer to the people. You cannot expect vulnerable families in remote areas to travel to a central hub to access basic needs like food. This decision shows a shocking disconnect from the realities on the ground.
“The families we support are already struggling financially and are now expected to carry an unnecessary additional cost,” said Latola.
She said the cuts have already begun to impact service delivery. Children’s homes, safe havens, and community outreach centres that relied on regional food banks now face dwindling supplies and increasing demand.
“We are not just feeding people, we are restoring dignity and saving lives. This centralised system will collapse under its weight. People will starve while waiting for a bureaucratic process to decide who eats and who doesn’t,” Latola added.
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She warned of a ripple effect that could worsen social ills, gender-based violence, and crime. “It is just food being cut, it’s hope.
“For many children and families, that one food parcel was the only reliable meal they had all week. People are struggling and now the MEC is taking away their lifeline.”
The HIV/Aids children sector is already grappling with reduced funding and overstretched staff who will bear the brunt of this policy shift. Many organisations fear they will be forced to turn children away or significantly scale back services.
“The MEC should have engaged with NPO leaders and affected communities to understand the impact of this decision and the kind of beneficiaries we serve.
“NPOs are needed to ensure families receive their parcels because there is now no guarantee beneficiaries will get their food parcels,” Latola added.
A beneficiary who relies on the food parcel told Germiston City News the past two months have been difficult for her family.
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“The grant is not enough to ensure the family survives the whole month. The food parcel helped close the gaps,” said Sthandwa Mavundla.
She added that she cannot go to a centre to collect food because that would require money she needs to buy bread for her children.
“The NPOs brought the parcels to our homes or we could collect them without spending money. Times are hard and we cannot afford taxi fares to collect food parcels, yet we need the food . We don’t know how we will survive. I fear we might die from hunger,” said Mavundla.
Refiloe Ntšekhe, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Social Development, has called for the immediate reversal of the cuts and a full review of the department’s food distribution strategy.
“This decision must be reversed before irreversible harm is done. We cannot gamble with the lives of children and the dignity of communities who already have so little,” said Ntšekhe.
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She added that the MEC should never have taken food parcel distribution away from NPOs.
“NPOs are closest to our communities and have been serving them for years.
“They provide food parcels, psychosocial services, and homework support to vulnerable children.
“A central food bank that has not been costed in terms of distribution is not the solution. NPOs can respond faster to community needs and disasters. Centralising food banks will also kill local suppliers and jobs that support NPOs,” said Ntšekhe.
