Province’s most vulnerable are victims of bureaucratic mess

by Justus De Goede – DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Social Development

 

The Democratic Alliance ( DA) is disappointed to learn that the Gauteng Department of Social Development has unilaterally closed down the province’s eight food banks.

This was revealed by the Department of Social Development to the Members of the Portfolio Committee for Social Development in the Gauteng Legislature.

The department’s explanation for this drastic step amounted to admission of an administrative bungle, resulting from officials not applying Treasury instructions dating back years which led to misclassification of spending on the food banks.

The department further told the committee that “mitigation” measures would be put in place, without providing details.

Clearly, this situation should never have been allowed to happen, had officials and more importantly management of the department been alert.

These outlets were providing food parcels to about 90 000 needy people, including some 12 000 HIV positive individuals.

Beneficiaries of these food parcels who are the most vulnerable members of the society have to suffer due to the department’s negligence.

The DA demands clarity from the Gauteng Department of Social Development MEC, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza on what is being done to remedy this catastrophic oversight and whether an inquiry is being conducted to determine how her department created this regrettable situation.

The DA will not sit by with its arms folded when the most vulnerable members of the society are in need.