GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality (DBNLM) denies irregularities in the distribution of food parcels to people in need.

This comes after accusations from several institutions and individuals that the municipality has ramped-up the distribution of food parcels itself and that there is confusion and uncertainty in the community about the fairness of the processes followed to identify people in need.

MP Samatha Graham-Maré said on Monday 4 May that there is something fishy behind the story. "I am going to ask access to information and want the municipality to declare every donation they have received," said Graham-Maré.

Edwardine Abader, acting spokesperson for the municipality, explained that, as per the resolution of the joint operations committee, a subcommittee was to be established to assist with the coordination and distribution of food parcels.

Chaired by Hento Davids, chairperson of the Graaff-Reinet Business Chamber, the subcommittee consists of DBNLM, SASSA, ASSA, Department of Social Development, social workers, Vuyani Safe Haven, the business forum, SANParks, Gift of the Givers, Assemblies of God Church, and the minister's fraternal.

Some of the food parcels distributed by SASSA. Photo: Christo Vermaak

Abader said some of the roles of the committee include to ensure fair distribution of food parcels to beneficiaries, who qualify and need it, to ensure there is no favouritism or duplication in the distribution of food parcels, and that all donations are donated centrally to the committee and not directly to beneficiaries.

"The subcommittee has a master list of names received from each donor, and distribution will be done according to the master list," Abader said.

Graham-Maré added that there are allegations made of donations to the municipality, which was not declared, and that the donations were not distributed. She mentioned a suspected case where a councillor, Ricardo Smith, organised food parcels for the Alex Laing Safe Haven, and the parcels were loaded by another councillor and taken out of town, without Smith's permission.

The Advertiser discovered that the councillor in question is Abraham Arries, and the food was taken to Klipplaat and Jansenville. Arries explained that he was phoned by another donor, asking him to come and pick up the food and distribute it in Klipplaat and Jansenville.

Graham-Maré insists that Smith's donations were intended for the haven and not for another person to pick up and distribute in other towns.

Graham-Maré also questioned the subcommittee's signing of permits to distribute food. "Only the municipal manager has the authority to sign such a permit. Not the chair or any other person," she said.

'We bring you the latest Graaff-Reinet, Karoo news'