Note to editors: Please find attached English soundbite by Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL.
The Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) MEC Faith Mazibuko’s decision to centralise food bank operations is causing mayhem with hundreds of children under the age of five suffering, and even worse, dying of malnutrition. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has drafted a motion to debate our proposal to reverse the centralisation of the food parcel distribution function to community-based nonprofit organisations (NPOs) and regional food banks.
This follows a shocking revelation by Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, responding to DA questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), that there were 2,873 child malnutrition cases in Gauteng Hospitals last year, and 5,673 cases observed in the clinics.
A concerning figure is the 224 severe malnutrition cases seen by the Olievenhoutbosch Extension 13 mobile clinic, which saw 224 children suffering severe acute malnutrition. Equally alarming are the 190 cases of severe acute malnutrition at the Weilers Farm clinic in the Vaal, and 138 malnutrition cases at the Hillbrow Community Health Centre.
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These figures align with the GDSD’s first quarterly report for the 2024/25 financial year, indicating that the department aimed to distribute 53,025 food parcels but only managed 34,114. Furthermore, the department had zero achievements on its pro-poor 434,595 basket interventions.
Most disturbing, however, is that children are starving while food rots in dumped regional food banks. Earlier this year, the DA learned that food delivered by the GDSD to the West Rand food bank was rotting after the NPO responsible for distribution was denied funding. During our oversight inspection at the Ekurhuleni food bank earlier this month, we discovered that the NPO at this bank had been defunded and ordered to vacate the premises. To our surprise, the food bank was still full of much-needed food that was starting to rot.
MEC Mazibuko should hang her head in shame for creating an avoidable crisis. The food rotting could have fed hungry children and contributed to their welfare. Instead, it lies wasted due to her poor leadership and Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s failure to hold her accountable for their endless blunders.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would decentralise food parcel distribution and ensure that the poor and vulnerable have easy access to food, thereby preventing malnutrition.