Minister of Social Development Zola Skweyiya expressed shock on Tuesday over allegations that substandard quality food hampers are being distributed in the Northern Cape.
”These allegations came as a shock and I have ordered the department to investigate with a sense of extreme urgency,” he said in a statement.
”This is indeed a matter of great concern and we will do all in our power to establish the real facts, and if [necessary] take appropriate steps.
”I want to reiterate that the government remains committed to making sure that food meant to assist the poorest and most needy households and communities, especially children, does [assist them],” he said.
Department of Social Development spokesperson Mbulelo Musi said a team of senior officials will be sent to the province on Wednesday to investigate the matter.
They will work closely with the Department of Health and then report back to the minister.
The minister will make a public pronouncement on the findings after receiving the report, said Musi.
He said the distribution of food hampers is part of the National Food Emergency Programme (NFES) introduced by the government in July 2002.
This is aimed at mitigating the impact of hiking food prices in the poorest households, he said.
Skweyiya raised concerns about the running of the NFES when he delivered his budget speech at Parliament.
He indicated that the social cluster of the government is reviewing the entire NFES in order to make it more effective.
More than two million households — including the neediest children, such as those in child-headed households, are assisted by the NFES.
Musi said out of the R400-million national allocation for the 2004/05 financial year, the Northern Cape received about R8,2-million. — Sapa