The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development has admitted in a Portfolio Committee meeting that it spent R25 million purchasing food parcels, which have been lying in storage for months, while people in the province are crying out for food.
The Inkatha Freedom Party in KwaZulu-Natal is appalled that food parcels meant to alleviate the plight of the neediest in the province during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, are still lying in the Department’s offices. According to the Department’s own performance indicators, it was supposed to deliver 88 000 food parcels per month during July and August this year, but it only delivered 1 025 food parcels for both months. At the meeting, IFP Member, Hon. Les Govender, questioned whether the food parcels were purchased, how much was spent and if the food parcels were delivered. Department officials were not able to provide suitable explanations as to why the food parcels were not delivered.
The IFP is deeply concerned that R25 million in tax-payers’ money has been spent on purchasing food parcels that are probably rotting in storage facilities across the province. Poor people in our province are starving after they were unable to work and put food on the table during the past three stages of lockdown. However, the very Department that is tasked with providing social relief, has turned its back on them.
The lack of suitable explanations from the Department’s officials demonstrates that certain officials do not take their work seriously. There is a lack of leadership in this Department, and a total disregard for the poorest of the poor in the province. This situation is unacceptable and cannot be allowed to continue. The IFP will follow this matter until our people receive the much-needed social relief that is due to them.
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Contact:
Mr Les Govender MPL
IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson for Social Development
083 974 4894