South Africa : Over 250 poor families in Mpuma benefit from food parcels

By Oris Mnisi & Sydney Masinga

Mashishing - The Mpumalanga Health and Social Development Departments handed food parcels to more than 250 poor families in Matibidi near Mashishing in Mpumalanga on Tuesday.

Three of the identified families were the Mashegos, Kgoedis and Makhubedus who were worried that they would not have anything to eat over Christmas.

"I stay in a dilapidated mud hut with my kids," said unemployed single mum of four, Hilda Kgoedi, 41. She said her children would sometimes go to school on empty stomachs and she could not afford to buy them uniforms.
She said her family survives on handouts from kind neighbours who sometimes ask her to do their washing. "At least we will have something to eat this Christmas," she said.

Mpumalanga Health and Social Development MEC Fish Mahlalela, who handed out the food parcels, was touched by the Kgoedi's situation and promised to provide school uniforms for the children next year.

Ward Councillor Phinia Mohlala said the family would also be helped to register for a RDP house.

Mr Mahlalela urged all unemployed and poor mothers to register for child support grants.

He was addressing the community ahead of the close of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign.

He said breadwinners who abuse women and children must not be allowed to get away with it.

"We know it is usually difficult to challenge a breadwinner, but we cannot let them get away with abusing women and children at home. We need to report them to the police," said Mr Mahlalela.

Mothers and wives, he said, were commonly the victims of the situation and should come forward and break silence, adding that abusers do not belong in the community, but behind bars.

"Though tomorrow [Wednesday] is the last day of the campaign, I urge you not to look away but continue with this awareness campaign throughout the year," he said.

The 16 Days of Activism campaign will end at an event in Queentown on Wednesday, where the President is expected to address community members. - BuaNews