Regulations on food parcels unconscionable, and open to corruption and mismanagement – IRR
5 May 2020
Government regulations to centralise the distribution of food parcels at a time when people are starving are irrational, impractical and callous, and fly in the face of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for a national effort.
The Institute of Race Relations (IRR) notes that in recent days, there have been multiple reports of organisations and individuals being prevented from giving out food to the hungry. Notably, a report emerged from KwaZulu-Natal in which caregivers were prevented from distributing food for lack of a permit.
These restrictions on people to care for their communities can only be described as nefarious politicking in the face of vast socio-economic pressures and concerns. There is no good reason why active citizens should not be able to organise and distribute food to those in need. This amounts to yet another abuse by power-hungry politicians who care more about political and ideological goals than desperate people.
While the people of South Africa have responded laudably, with many organisations launching charitable initiatives – among them, churches, community organisations, and the agricultural organisation, SAAI – government has intervened yet again to regulate by fiat.