Agang SA leader Mamphela Ramphele slammed the ANC for allegedly hijacking a government food programme to lure votes from poor people.
Agang SA leader Mamphela Ramphele slammed the ANC for allegedly hijacking a government food programme to lure votes from poor people.
On her two-day trip to Makana last week, she said the food parcels that roll out "once every five years" were an insult to citizens.
But Ramphele isn't the only one accusing the ANC of trying to exchange food for votes.
DA Councillor Lena May recently accused the ANC of abusing the Social Relief of Distress (SRD), or 'food parcels' programme.
She said some DA supporters were being excluded from getting food parcels.
"I always encouraged DA supporters to go and register for these food parcels," May said. However, there have been incidents where people wearing DA shirts were chased away by ANC supporters who said it was "their" programme.
May said the ANC should be ashamed, "for starving the people and only looking after them when voting time nears".
Another prominent voice in the community, Ayanda Kota of the Unemployed People's Movement, says the ANC is desperate for votes.
"To go to the extent of giving the poor and theunemployed food for their votes means Mississippi is burning – we are in serious trouble," Kota said.
"Our members know what the catch is with this free food – it's all about the votes and this means we can never find free and fair elections."
The ANC has brushed off these allegations as untrue.
Sub-regional chairperson of the ANC and Makana Municipality Spokesperson Mncedisi Boma denies that the party is campaigning by dishing out food parcels.
"It is not in our policy as the ANC to utilise state assets to fund our election campaigns," he said, "so we reject these baseless rumours."
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) also dismissed allegations that its SRD programme is being abused.
According to provincial spokesperson of Sassa, Luzuko Qhina, the food parcels are available all year round and anyone who meets their criteria can come and apply at their offices.
Qhina said the programme is supposed to temporarily provide people with food in emergencies or times of distress.
Qhina emphasised that food parcels are not a provision for people who are unemployed, but for those who are in distress.
Sassa isn't the only government institution that offers this kind of provision, he added.
R67 million had been allocated to the SRD programme for the 2013 financial year.
Although Sassa and the ANC deny that food parcels only roll out en masse when elections are around the corner, many people in Grahamstown East report receiving them recently.
Michael Ngesi, from Vukani, said he applied for SRD in June and received the bulk food package in September.
"I've always applied when applications opened when it's going to be elections," he said, "but I never got anything."
This year luck was on his side, however, and Ngesi said he just may try his luck again. "I know others who got it twice and I guess I need to go check if I can't get it again as well."
An angry Lulamile Jodwana is singing a different tune, though.
"If I'm not getting these food parcels I won't vote next year because this is not fair. There are people who applied after me who have already received theirs," he said.
Jodwana said his family doubts whether he's telling the truth about applying as other people have gotten the food easily.
He said he won't vote on an empty stomach.
ABOUT FOOD PARCELS
Who qualifies for food parcels?
According to the South African government services website, criterion include:
- if your house has burnt down, or you are distressed due to another disaster
- you are temporarily out of work because of medical reasons
- you don't qualify for grants but are in a desperate situation
- you can't get maintenance from the other parent of your children or
- the breadwinner of your family has died or been imprisoned for less than six months.
What do you get?
The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) provision may be in the form of a food parcel or a voucher to buy food.
Some provinces give this assistance in the form of cash.
SRD is given for a short time only – usually for up to three months, which may be extended for another three months.
In the case of floods or fire when people are left homeless, the South African Social Security Agency will also provide mattresses, blankets, school uniforms for children etc.
