December 6, 2006
By Ndaba Dlamini
JOZI celebrated World Food Day and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty by rewarding community-based organisations (CBOs) with certificates and gifts for their support in distributing food parcels to the needy.
World Food Day and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, initiatives of the United Nations to focus on poverty in developing nations, are commemorated internationally on 16 and 17 October every year respectively.
Scores of members from CBOs from the City's seven regions swamped the Reception Room at the Metro Centre in Braamfontein to mark the two events, on Tuesday, 5 December, with the theme "Age of hope, power to the people: Bottom solutions to hunger".
The member of the mayoral committee for community development, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza; the portfolio head for health, Matshidiso Mfikoe; the executive director of community development, Pilisiwe Twala-Tau; and councillors attended the ceremony.
Mayathula-Khoza said the aim of the commemoration, belated though it was, was to heighten public awareness of the world's food problems and to strengthen solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty.
"The City is committed to the issue of eradicating poverty and this cannot be achieved without your support. I appreciate the role that you play in society by identifying the indigent and distributing food accordingly to those who are in dire need."
Johannesburg has established a partnership with CBOs and non-governmental organisations to implement its food security programme; under this, the organisations ensure that food parcels are distributed to deserving beneficiaries. At present a total of 240 organisations are involved with 22 441 individual beneficiaries.
The food security programme, set up in partnership with the Social Development Department, the Health Department, the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market and Robin Good Initiative, a distribution agent, aims to provide food and fresh produce to "the poorest of the poor" and to children affected by HIV and Aids.
However, the City was faced with the formidable task of eradicating poverty, said Mayathula-Khoza. Eradicating poverty and hunger was stated as one of the Millennium Development Goals agreed by world leaders at the United Nations Millennium Summit held in September 2002.
"The City has set up programmes to eradicate poverty. It has developed packages of social support for people who cannot afford to pay for council services and these programmes have been rolled out in places like Soweto and Eldorado Park."
Joburg was also supporting CBOs and non-governmental organisations with social grants; it was setting up a policy and procedures regarding who should benefit from these grants through these organisations, Mayathula-Khoza added.
"We are also giving livelihood support to communities through local economic development projects. Incremental improvement of infrastructure in previously disadvantaged areas is also taking place to improve the quality of life of people."
MMC for community development Nandi Mayathula-Khoza and Councillor Ntombizodwa Nxumalo present a gift to a representative of Bophilo Home-Based Care organisation
The Rand Water Choir and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department Choir sang the popular Umshini Wami song, and then it was time for handing out awards to the CBOs that came out tops in implementing the food security programme.
Philani Support Group clinched the top spot in Region A and Hands of Compassion was the best organisation in Region B. Silver Thread clinched the top award in Region C. Bophilo Home-Based Care came out tops in Region D and Women for Peace won in Region E. Siyophila and Joint Aid Management came first in Regions F and G respectively.
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