#NotInMyName has initiated a food parcel distribution campaign supported by various businesses to bring relief to many families that had lost incomes. The campaign was initiated because of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the national lockdown imposition which has left many families hungry.
The movement was started by a small group of concerned citizens, who came together and called on all men to come forward and be the voice of change against gender-based violence across South Africa. According to Themba Masango, #NotInMyName Secretary-General, the organisation has been inundated with distress calls from families across South Africa begging for food handouts as more people struggle to put food on the table.
“This weekend we are visiting informal settlements in the North West, where our president Siyabulela Jentile hails from. He strongly felt that charity should begin at home and we took out food hampers to the families at Jouberton and Khuma informal settlements,” Masango said.
“Poverty in those areas is terrible, especially in the informal settlements that we visited. The lockdown condition has made poverty to become more extreme. People there really do not know what to do. As you might know, these conditions also influence gender-based violence. In these set-ups, people are very stressed and often the anger is taken out on women and children,” he added.
The civil rights organization delivered food parcels, which included maize meal, cooking oil, beans, soup and porridge to more than 200 families.
“We want to express gratitude to the Potchefstroom public order policing unit of the SAPS led by Captain Tumi Ramahlaha for supporting us and accompanying us to the respective communities.The unequal distribution of resources in South Africa calls on us to unite to achieve our sustainable development goals as they relate to social justice,” concluded Masango.
