North West MEC for Department of Social Development Boitumelo Moiloa, dismisses with contempt the allegations levelled by Democratic Alliance against her department that food parcels are being stored in Matlosana for purposes of media coverage first before they could be distributed.
We confirm that since lockdown period was declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the department has distributed food parcels to various needy families who were profiled and verified in Dr Kenneth Kaunda district.
While we acknowledge that more still need to be done as a result of dire social challenges faced by communities in our province, we simultaneously note with dismay baseless and misleading allegations championed by the DA particularly during this period of distress caused by COVID-19 in our country and globally.
As repeatedly articulated by President Ramaphosa, the department believes that this period requires all South Africans irrespective of their political affiliation to work together with government and assist in waging war against this catastrophic pandemic. We therefore dispel these allegations as cheap politicking and unnecessary malicious attack intended at tarnishing the image of the department led by MEC Moiloa during her tireless efforts of ensuring social justice and food security for all people in the North West Province.
We would like to state categorically clear that the department has never issued a pamphlet with contacts details of coordinators at district offices. The department in collaboration with its entity South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), uses the Toll Free number 0800601011 and 018 397 3360 at the regional call centre situated in Mahikeng to handle all applications for social relief from distressed families during the lockdown period. We have currently handled 2 790 calls across the province at our regional call centre and out of these numbers, 382 calls are from Ngaka Modiri Molema district.
We further wish to inform our communities that the department has created a systematic plan to ensure transparent and fair process of distributing food parcels throughout the province during this lockdown period. Beneficiaries including individuals and destitute families experiencing hardship and hunger are being profiled and verified by our social workers prior to receiving food parcels.
We believe that distributors would at no point help themselves to the food parcels because all beneficiaries are required to produce ID’s and sign before they receive food parcels. This process applies to all beneficiaries in order to ensure proper monitoring and accountability on the departmental side.
We therefore call on DA and other members of society to refrain from peddling lies over the media about our social relief of distress programme. We further invite them to present all allegations with substantive evidence of any corruption to our department for further investigations to can institute disciplinary actions where necessary.
In conclusion, we wish to state unequivocally that government’s efforts will not be derailed by DA’s pessimistic attitude during this difficult period where most of our people are in dire need of social relief. We remain committed to deliver social services to needy communities during and beyond the lockdown period.
ENDS.
For Enquiries: Call Departmental Spokesperson – Petrus Siko
Tel : (018) 388 1426
Cell: 083 647 0668
Email : psiko@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by Department of Social Development
