Needy in ward 16 are still waiting for food parcels

The DA in Gauteng is disappointed that the acting Gauteng Social Development MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, has denied that his department is responsible for the delays in distributing food parcels in Ward 16.

The ward comprises Kempton Park CBD, ext 2-4, Allen Grove, Nimrod Park, parts of Glen Marais and Aston Manor.

According to Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Social Development, Lesufi was responding to the DA’s questions during the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s virtual sitting.

She said: “According to the MEC, DA’s Ward 16 councillor Jaco Terblanche did not send an email requesting food parcels to the department but he sent the email to Ekurhuleni. The department did not receive any food parcel requests from the councillor.

“The MEC said they have no obligation to provide feedback to the people who submitted the lists for food parcel requests and they have their own system they are using to track food parcel distribution.

“However, the DA is in possession of an email which Terblanche sent to the department with the list of food parcel requests.”
Nt’sekhe said the application was sent on April 20 and Terblanche received a reference number from province but until today the residents in his ward who are desperate for food have not yet received any food parcels from the department.

“In fact, other people in the ward received food from Gauteng Department of Social Development.”

The DA called for transparency with regards to the list of the food parcel requests sent to the department and for those who had benefited.

“All public representatives deserve feedback to track their requests and provide feedback to the residents.

“The DA will continue to monitor the process of food parcel distribution to ensure that all requests are processed and the beneficiaries receive food parcels.”