Residents protest over food parcels

Booysens – On Tuesday Booysens informal settlement residents blocked several roads with burning tyres and
rocks protesting over non-delivery of food parcels.
JMPD spokesperson Wayne Minnaar said the protest action started from Eloff Street.
“Community members say they have not received food parcels since the lockdown began, and blocked the road
from the Eloff Street extension,” Minnaar said.
He added that the protest action also affected nearby areas of Selby and Rosettenville.
Residents who survive from food they collect from nearby dumping sites accused their ward councillor
Mongameli Mnyameni of ignoring them and preventing donors from bringing food parcels for them.
Community leader Thembelani Zwane also accused Mnyameni of failing to educate them about the Covid-19
pandemic.
“We can’t sell recyclable materials we have collected before lockdown. Many of us don’t know anything about the
coronavirus. We survive by eating expired food from dumping sites because we don’t have money to buy
groceries. We have pleaded with our councillor to educate us about this virus but he ignores us. We are worried
because should one be positive, we shall all die,” Zwane said.
Mnyameni denied the claims, saying he brought people to the area to educate residents about the virus; and also
denied that he ignored them over food distribution.
“There is no way I can prevent people from donating food to our people. I earlier went to all voting stations in my
ward and coordinated lists of people who should receive food parcels. After the announcement by the province that
all leaders must distance themselves from food distributions, I did so. I have given their names to the social
development department,” Mnyameni said.