Food relief only meant for landlords in Bophelong
BOPHELONG. – The Bophelong community members have asked why the Department of Social Development (DSD) is not utilising Non-Profit Organisations (NPO’s), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) or Community Development Workers (CDW’s) to distribute food parcels to the community.
The residents believe that the current criteria used by the department does not work at all. After queuing for hours, tenants were this week turned away, and did not receive food parcels which were being distributed at the Bophelong Primary School from the department as it was said that they were meant for landlords only.
“The criteria used by the Social Development Department does not have control. Many people double their chances to access parcels. We have seen people doubling or getting parcels many times from other areas here in Bophelong,” said Dipuo Mantshi- Molefe (60), a resident. Another resident, Selinah Ntlatsi (47) said that she was frustrated after they were told to bring their documents.
Colonel Ntjayakasi Molotsi of Vanderbijlpark Police Station assisted to keep order while the Department of Social Development distributed food parcels in Bophelong.
“No one told us about the landlord and tenants story, this makes no sense whatsoever.”
Another ‘complete irregularity’ which residents (tenants) mentioned is that many Joko Tea squatter camp residents were recipients of food parcels even though they are not landlords.
“The same rules should apply during political elections. Voters should also be turned away if they do not own property. Even a rich person passing by can end up queuing for free food so that he or she can save money. Why are poor people separated from rich people?” they asked.
A DSD official known as Zibi said that it seems as if the message conveyed to the residents was not clear. Zibi said that they never said that only landlords can receive the food parcels but the whole people living in the same yard.
“As a department due to the bigger area we did not go on our own for house visits to check with families who qualifies. We totally relied on the community field workers like Community Development Workers (CDW’s) and the Bo Ntate Ba Kopane Forum (BBF) for information.”
