The residents of Lebaleng informal settlement near Wolmaranstad are heaving a sigh of relief after receiving food parcels and blankets from the authorities to help them cope with the impact of torrential rains that have been pouring in the area for the past two weeks. Most of the residents who stays in rusty shacks attributed their poor living conditions to lack of identity documents and unemployment. Josphine Xaba, a mother of nine children and six grandchildren who had been living in the informal settlement for the past five years said life is unbearable without a job. Xaba said they depended on child support grant which was paid to her children for three months and it was terminated. Since then xaba said she had to look for odd jobs to feed her 16 families members who crammed in one roomed shack. Most of her children and including grandchildren have no ID documents to access government services.
“This grocery hamper came at a crucial time to help me feed my family during this difficult period. We thank the MEC from government to brave the rain to bring us this large quantity of food. We are unable to go out and look for piece jobs because of the rain. Water flowing continuously in yards. We fear for my grandchildren,” Xaba said.
On Wednesday, Social Development MEC Boitumelo Moiloa took her knock and drop food distribution drive Lebaleng informal settlement in Maquassi Hills. Moiloa was accompanied by social workers who have been conducting home circumstance of reports on 10 households which were affected by torrential rains.
“We have activated our interventions in areas hit by torrential rains. Through our social relief of distress programme, we are on the right stead to provide food and basic necessities to needy families,” Moiloa said, adding that social workers will always be on the ground to provide services to needy families.
As she distributed food relief, Moiloa urged residents to stay at home, wash hands, keeping social distancing guidelines and wear face masks anytime when they are out in public in the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus.
Since January, Moiloa has been distributing social relief of distress in the form of food parcels and blankets to families who were left devastated by heavy rains in Bojanala, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and Dr Kenneth Kaunda districts.
ENDS.
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