MEC for Gauteng Department of Social Development Ms Faith Mazibuko together with officials from various regions braved the cold weather and brought smiles to many previously disadvantaged families by distributing blankets and food parcels as part of Winter Warmers campaign.
The campaign formed part of an outreach programme of identifying deserving and destitute families so that they could be kept in a data base that will help inform the departments’ decisions around future relief intervention programmes. “Urban poverty is real and requires renewed activist mentality of Social Workers in addressing the needs of the communities” admitted the MEC Mazibuko.
The MEC had earlier interacted with regional Social Workers at the Walter Sisulu Centre in Noordgesig and emphasised the need for social workers to compassionately and strategically package information that reflect patterns of urban poverty.
A 33 year old wheel chair bound Mzwandile Vezi from Aaron Motsoaledi informal settlement is one of the beneficiaries who received blanket and food parcels during the campaign. Vezi a father of nine year old boy could not wait to get home; instead covered himself after receiving his blanket from the MEC to survive the freezing cold weather.
“The distribution of these blankets came at the right time because some of us cannot afford to buy ourselves blankets with the disability grant that I receive monthly since I have a son to take care for”, said Vezi. “I would like to thank the department for giving me a new blanket and food because it came as a surprise when my neighbour invited me to join her to the community meeting at Power Park,” added Vezi.
In another settlement, a 70 year old Dollor Holander from Slovo Park could not believe her eyes when officials entered her shack to deliver her blanket and food parcels after she was discharged from hospital the previous day.
“The bedridden Dollar commented; I can’t believe what I’m seeing here because the only time I remember was when our community leader visited my house and asked for my details. The blanket came at the right time when Johannesburg was this cold.”
The community also enjoyed an opportunity to interact with the MEC and Head of Department Ms Tshoki Tshabalala who encouraged them to form cooperatives that may be supported by government. “We don’t want our people to rely too much on hand-outs instead we want our people to stand up for themselves and do something.
The department is embarking on a welfare to work programme that needs skilled people to take job opportunities that may be offered through programmes such as Extended Pubic Works Programmes, said MEC Mazibuko.”
The campaign is set to expand into Sedibeng, Ekuhruleni and the West Rand and will also integrate food security services that are offered by the Department of Agriculture.
The public has been urged to be careful with fire:
For Road Safety in the Cold Weather also view:
Driving in Winter/ Driving on Snow and Ice
Driving in Winter and Defogging the Windscreen