Growing need for food parcels in East London suburbs

Councillors in Buffalo City Metro may have to turn away destitute families who want to benefit from the city's R30m food parcel vouchers programme as each ward can allocate them to only 800 people.

This is while some residents from the more affluent areas are too proud to ask for government assistance and are suffering in silence, councillors told DispatchLIVE on Wednesday.

The deadline to submit the list of beneficiaries is on Thursday, mayor Xola Pakati confirmed on Wednesday.

The metro has availed R30m towards providing food parcels to 40,000 families in each of its 50 wards. Each ward has to identify 800 people living below the poverty line who will receive the R750 vouchers. Those meant to benefit from the food vouchers are the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, child-headed homes and hawkers.

However, metro councillors told DispatchLIVE on Wednesday they were receiving more requests for food assistance than usual as the financial impact of the coronavirus puts pressure on some middle class families.

Councillor Marion Mackley of ward 28, which comprises Beacon Bay North, Beaconhurst, Blue Bend and Bonza Bay, said there were at least 200 people in the suburb in need of assistance.

“The need out there is huge, this is a problem in the entire metro. Almost every family except for a very few will manage during this lockdown,” she said.

There are at least 11 families who do not have food in the suburb of Beacon Bay, she said.

“The response has been overwhelming. There are destitute families in Beacon Bay who cannot put a slice of bread on the table. We are getting food donations from churches and residents.

“There could be a lot more but some people won't come and ask for help. There are a lot of people who won't be able to pay their rent and life policies.”

Ward 19, made up of West Bank, Buffalo Flats, Greenfields and Second Creek areas, has “a lot of destitute families”, councillor Derick Green said.

“We have five areas in my ward and to be fair I needed 160 names from each area because we will never be able to accommodate everybody.

“ The West Bank area has many needy people.

“Even before the food parcels, I have had some of the worst cases to deal with in the Greenfields and West Bank areas. Some people do not want to give information to ward councillors because some may feel embarrassed.”

He urged community members to avoid gossiping about poor families.

“Even in affluent areas, there are people in need of assistance but are scared because they may have previously came from a rich background.

“Ubuntu must play a big role, especially in our communities. People must reach out and there is no need to be in hiding.”

Vincent ward councillor Jason Mcdowell said some of the most affected people in affluent areas were the self-employed and tenants.

“My list is full but not all are from my ward. We brought people from other wards and put them in my list; the municipality knows about this.

“I do have families that are struggling in my ward. We need more money and improved communication. Many people do not know about this until it is too late,” he said.

The process of identifying the families to benefit from the programme has been riddled with allegations of irregularities in some areas. Residents have claimed their councillors have left out deserving families in favour of their cronies.

Pakati said that would not be tolerated.

He said councillor were told what the criteria were in allocating the vouchers, saying the process was supposed to be inclusive instead of councillors deciding who would benefit.

“If councillors decide to alienate some people, that means they are taking food away from them — that is how we see it.

“We will not tolerate any corrupt tendencies in this programme ... If there is any evidence of corruption, then due processes of the council will have to unfold,” he said.

On Wednesday afternoon Pakati donated food parcels worth R21,000 to 72 people at the Qongqo Hospice in Fort Jackson.