Department Of Social Development distances itself from social media message on food distribution
The Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) has noted messages on social media about distribution of food parcels in the province and distances itself as this is not an official communication from the Department and thus must be ignored.
Since March 2020, the Department implemented a special food relief programme as part of the COVID-19 response when the country was in a hard lockdown.
"At the end of September 2020 the special food programme had distributed food relief to over 537 388 families, reaching over 2 686 940 persons in Gauteng. The programme has since scaled down as it was a special project, with a special budget allocation, linked to the hard lock down", said Mr Onkemetse Kabasia, the Deputy Director-General for Social Welfare Services at GDSD.
Presently, the GDSD distributes food relief on a lower scale targeting specifically profiled families or those who meet service requirements of the Department, not the general public.
The social media posting is therefore incorrect and misleading. The Department has long scaled down on the massive COVID food relief programme. We encourage communities to follow Department Social Development media platforms to get the most accurate information.
For media inquiries contact:
Feziwe Ndwayana
Cell: 067 403 1955
E-mail: Feziwe.Ndwayana@gauteng.gov.za
