Police step in to disperse hungry crowd at Methodist church
The church has been handing out 70 to 100 food parcels every Friday since the start of the lockdown
Residents flocked to Kempton Park Methodist Church on Van Der Walt Street on May 8 to receive food parcels but had to leave empty-handed.
Kempton Park SAPS dispersed over 50 unhappy residents gathered outside the church waiting to receive parcels.
According to Kempton Park SAPS spokesperson Sgt Dipuo Ditshego, the church distributed 35 food parcels.
“On arrival at the church, I spoke to the crowd and told them to adhere to the Disaster Management Act in terms of social distancing and wearing of masks, which they adhered to. We will continue to monitor such crowds to make sure compliance is adhered to,” said Ditshego.
According to Methodist Church Rev Simphiwe Mthembu, the church has been handing out 70 to 100 food parcels every Friday since the start of the lockdown.
“As a church amid lockdown we are obliged to feed any hungry individual who comes to the church seeking help. The church has a register of the beneficiaries to keep track. However, our registration requires proof of residence and an ID.
“Unfortunately, it was discovered there were residents who were not on the list and did not produce any form of identification.
“The church did not send out any form of communication regarding the food parcels but it turned out an anonymous tip was circulating around the area, which resulted in a commotion outside our church premises.
“We conversed with Kempton Park police and came to a mutual agreement they would be present during any future distributions,” said Mthembu.
