MEC keeps his promise to the needy in Lyttelton
As part of normal funding for food relief programme the department awarded a tender of R80 million which will add to current increased relief request due to Covid-19.
On Monday afternoon, acting MEC for social development Panyaza Lesufi met with the needy at Lyttelton Sports Ground following concerns raised by them.
Lyttelton, who has since last week been home to over 300 people, pleaded for overalls and gumboots.
Lesufi kept his word and visited the site where he handed out two-piece overalls as well as bottles of hand sanitisers.
Domestos, soccer balls, refuge bags filled with clothing and blankets and food were also donated to the people.
ALSO READ: MEC Lesufi addresses the homeless at Lyttelton sports ground
Activist Yusuf Abramjee thanked Pansula Workwear and Gift of the Givers for the donations.
“Thanks to the community of Laudium, about two bakkie loads of clothing were delivered. We also would like to thank Gift of the Givers who donated sanitisers, wash cloths, washing powder and liquids.
“Pansula Workwear was also present to hand over the overalls,” Abramjee added.
On Monday, the people thanked Lesufi for giving them a better future.
Community members were, however, concerned about the relocation of the people who have been moved from Caledonian Stadium to Lyttelton.
Some concerns were raised such as what will happen to these people when the lockdown period ends.
Lesufi assured the community they will prepare themselves to accommodate the needy in some way.
“Our commitment is that after the lockdown we should have prepared ourselves to accommodate them in some way. The NGOs will become the relevant institutions to do so.
Following the lockdown, we have a database we can utilise to distribute them to NGOs we know,” said Lesufi.
South African professional football midfielder, Siphiwe Tshabalala, also came to support the MEC.
“We thank you for your cooperation.
“As part of normal funding for the food relief programme the department awarded a tender of R80 million, which will add to the current increased relief request due to Covid-19.
“National government and the Solidarity fund have also allocated R43 million to assist the province and ensure that our people do not go to bed on empty stomachs during this time of need. As government we welcome the donations and call for more donations as the need is ever increasing,” Lesufi said.
The department received donations of 10 000 food packs from Shell SA to be distributed across the province.
Colgate-Palmolive donated 21 pallets of bath soap, toothpaste, roll on, body lotion, face cloths to be distributed to the homeless who are in temporary shelters.
Numbers that matter:
- 120 000
MealSA donated 120 000 bags of mielie meal, which will be delivered in batches of 40 000 per month over three months to families.
- R5 million
Operation SA and the South African National Zakah fund to date has raised R5 million in donations to procure food for distribution, nutritional energy drinks, blankets, mattresses and toiletries.
- 720
Dursot has donated 720 cans of chakalaka and baked beans.
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