North West Social Development’s Head of Department, Peggy Mhlongo-Kgaboesele together with Health MEC Sello Lehari led a food parcels distribution drive at Matlwang village in JB Marks local municipality as part of the provincial service delivery programme dubbed Thuntsha lerole.
Thuntsha lerole is the North West provincial government’s Accelerated Service Delivery Programme that showcases an ongoing commitment to fast-track service delivery and bring government services closer to communities.
Mhlongo-Kgaboesele said through social relief of distress programme the department is working tirelessly to ensure that no person goes to bed hungry, emphasising that food parcels are being distributed to individuals, child headed households and families in dire need of assistance.
“Handing out of the food parcels is a short-term measure that we use to intervene in the plight of the needy. Other interventions that we are nurturing include profiling and identifying young people and equip them with security courses and driver’s licenses.”
Other than these interventions, Mhlongo-Kgaboesele indicated that as a department they can assist indigent families to create their own food gardens in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development so that they could be self-sustainable and not continue to rely on food parcels.
The food parcels are comprised of nutritional food items such large packets of mealie meal, sugar, baked beans, salt, vegetables, rice, tea, tins of fish and bottles of cooking oil for each of the beneficiaries.
They provide essential sustenance and are a critical lifeline for people living below the breadline by offering immediate relief from hunger.
Among the 100 beneficiaries from Matlwang, Radimo, Phalakgomo and kgapamadi villages who received food parcels as a lifeline is a 22 yesr old orphan, Dimpho Nthongwa who is manning the day to day affairs of family after her parents die. Her young sister matriculated last year. The two of them are unemployed and live below the breadline. Currently they depend on an electrical infrastructure and construction learnership programme to make ends meet.
The Nthongwa, the aspiring electrician, is grateful to department for remembering them during their time of need. “This is a great relief to us. This is the grocery that we could not afford to buy. It will take us a long time to finish it,” elated Nthongwa exclaimed.
The department of social development’s food relief programme is targeted at individuals and families facing undue hardships, hunger and starvation as reflected in its annual performance plan.
ENDS.
Issued by North West Department of Social Development
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