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Report on Buffalo City’s food voucher system requested

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Dear MyPE

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the City Manager of the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) to request a full report on the Metro’s R30 million food voucher system.

We have requested that the City Manager, Andile Sihlahla, provide such a report on the processes followed with regards to the food voucher system at the next ordinary council meeting.

Over the past few days, disturbing stories have emerged about food relief vouchers allegedly being plundered and diverted away from their intended beneficiaries. The process has been marred by alleged irregularities as some ANC ward councillors have sought to politicize this process. These ANC councillors are allegedly ignoring deserving residents in the interest of political allegiances.

The DA’s Buffalo City Metro Caucus initially welcomed the voucher relief system. The system, however, has been poorly planned and processes are changing on a daily basis.

The administration of this process was laid squarely at the feet of ward councillors. Councillors found themselves being responsible for both the administration and oversight of the process. This has exposed ward councillors, in particular, to unacceptable levels of risk.

The City Manager’s report on the voucher system should include:

  • Timeframes to submit names of beneficiaries.
  • Details on the beneficiary verification process undertaken by the administration.
  • Clarity on who was responsible for ensuring that service providers received verified lists.
  • The process followed to inform councillors about people that qualified for vouchers.
  • How were beneficiaries informed of the fact that they qualified for vouchers.
  • What security measures were put in place to ensure adherence to Covid-19 lockdown regulations.

In order to receive their vouchers and then to redeem them at service provider outlets beneficiaries are gathering in large numbers and are not adhering to lockdown regulations and social distancing requirements.

This exposes the most vulnerable in our society – those with limited access to health care and basic sanitation – to the Coronavirus. This is compounded by the fact that the BCMM has the second-highest rate of infections in the Eastern Cape.

We call on the City Manager to provide a transparent and accurate report to the municipal council.

It is vital that we all work together to fight this common enemy. The DA is committed to join forces with all political parties to ensure relief to Buffalo City’s vulnerable communities.

Regards

Cllr Anathi Majeke
Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality

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