Cape Town - The City’s Urban Management Directory has set in motion the roll-out of the second phase of its Humanitarian Relief programme, which will see it spend R15 million in support of the City’s vulnerable, who are battling with food insecurity due to the ongoing pandemic.
Mayco member for urban management Grant Twigg officially launched the second phase of the food relief initiative, with a visit to the Ravensmead and Epping Forest food distribution points, to assist sub-council managers and ward councillors, with the sorting and delivery of food parcels.
Speaking on the necessity of the food relief initiative, Twigg said the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic has continued to negatively impact vulnerable communities and it was important for the City to continue playing a supportive role, and assist individuals and households in need.
“Our second phase of the Humanitarian Relief programme is part of the City’s wider response management initiative to the pandemic. The Urban Management Department was granted R25 million in the 2020/21 financial year, to implement a humanitarian food relief programme.
“R10 million was approved by the council in January and we initiated projects and programmes, across all wards within the metropolitan boundaries of the City. The rollout for phase 2, for the remaining R15 million, commenced last week, in various sub-councils,” said Twigg.
Out of the 67 applications that the City received, 18 organisations were reportedly screened and selected to be beneficiaries of the relief programme.
“While the local government may not have the core delivery mandate for social relief, the City is playing its part to assist vulnerable residents, who are bearing the brunt of this pandemic.
“We will continue this in all 24 sub-councils. We are taking the whole of society approach, to assist our most vulnerable residents during these difficult times,” said Twigg.