Home News Kimberley residents receive food parcels after protest

Kimberley residents receive food parcels after protest

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The residents barricaded the Beaconsfield entrance to Greenpoint accusing the DSD of not following the necessary protocols for the distribution of food parcels.

A GROUP of Diamond Park residents in Greenpoint, who took to the streets in protest earlier this week, had their pleas for assistance heard on Wednesday when the Northern Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) delivered their food parcels.

The residents barricaded the Beaconsfield entrance into Greenpoint on Tuesday morning, accusing the DSD of not following the necessary protocols for the distribution of food parcels. According to the unhappy residents, less than 50 food parcels were delivered in the whole of Greenpoint.

A group, calling itself the Concerned Group of Diamond Park, said a few members of the community had received food parcels two days after the last rainstorm as part of the Disaster Management Programme. They indicated that on Thursday last week, fewer than 50 parcels were again distributed.

After being dispersed by the police on Tuesday, the community threatened to escalate their protest action if more food parcels were not distributed by the DSD.

According to the department, however, more than 300 food hampers were distributed in the community.

Department spokesperson Gamiem Abrahams said that the DSD had targeted the “deeper part” of Greenpoint first as the shack areas were difficult to access.

“These shacks are difficult to access and have no roads leading to them. Our volunteers, assisted by SAPS, went on foot, door-to-door, delivering food hampers to each home in that particular area. Most of these people are often missed and forgotten about,” said Abrahams on Wednesday.

According to Abrahams, the first batch of 150 parcels were distributed in the Greenpoint, Bathlo Botlhe area. “During the second round, we delivered 104 parcels to those who met the qualifying criteria in the greater Greenpoint area.”

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