Question NW1384 to the Minister of Social Development
25 August 2020 - NW1384
August, Mr SN to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)Whether, considering that her department now does not need to pre-approve plans to enable nongovernmental organisations to provide food relief to citizens in need, the regulation includes that takeaway and/or disposable containers would be acceptable for soup and food kitchens that can provide the specified take-away containers; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what arethe relevant details; (2) whether homeless persons will be exempted from the requirement that soupkitchens and food parcel distributors provide the names and addresses of allrecipients, since homeless persons do not have an address (details furnished); ifnot, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1755E
Reply:
1. Yes, theDepartment (DSD) does not need to pre-approve plans to enable nongovernmental organisations to provide food relief to citizens in need. The DSD was rather seeking to better coordinate all food distribution activities and ensure vulnerable people receive food in a dignified manner in partnership with individuals and organizations involved in food distribution.
The permission of take away and/or disposable containers is acceptable for soup and food kitchens that can provide the specified take-away containers.
The measures introduced by DSD are not prohibitive but intended to protect the health and well-being of our people. Health inspectors had warned the food programme against use of inappropriate materials, hence the Department had provided cutlery and crockery in the centres. The take away provision was to enable centres to not have congestion whilst we striving for social distancing during the COVID-19 period.
2. No, the homeless persons are supported by the shelters and in the case where they do not have IDs and addresses our officials use their names to identify and register them. A portfolio of evidence is part of accounting for resources distributed by government and the soupkitchens and food parcel distributors providingfood to the homeless without addresses do still register the recipients using their names, surname and the centre or area they come from.