Making food support simpler and safer, Drakenstein Municipality has started to roll out an exciting new electronic food voucher programme. The Municipality works together with the well-established and reputable local non-governmental organisation (NGO), Valcare, and has already issued 2 381 e-vouchers to people in need in Drakenstein, with more to follow next week.
The once-off food e-voucher, to the total value of R250, is issued via SMS. Beneficiaries then have 14 days, during which they can buy essential food items at selected stores in Paarl, Mbekweni and Wellington. These currently include certain branches of Shoprite, Checkers, Pick n Pay, Spar and Boxer, and might later include other local food outlets. Beneficiaries simply need to show the SMS with the voucher code to the shop assistant to activate the voucher.
“While food e-vouchers make delivering food support easier, we believe this might also be a more dignified way for some people to receive help during this difficult time. For many it is understandably a sensitive matter, and we want to treat our people with respects,” says Alderman Conrad Poole, Executive Mayor of Drakenstein Municipality.
“People can now go to the shop on their own time and at their own convenience, and choose their essential food items, instead of queueing for a food parcel. We don’t prescribe to them what to buy, but encourage all beneficiaries to only purchase essential food items with their food e-vouchers. Distributing food support electronically, instead of handing it over physically, is also safer because it limits human contact,” Executive Mayor Poole adds.
The Drakenstein Municipality food e-vouchers form part of a comprehensive food aid programme, where the Municipality collaborates with a network of over 200 local NGOs.
Up till the first week of May, altogether 2 765 food hampers have been distributed to those in need via the Drakenstein Municipality Food Security Programme. These food hampers can feed a family of five for a month. By the end of May a total of 5 000 food hampers would have been distributed to families of up to five. This food security programme will then have provided food to an estimated 25 000 people.
The Drakenstein Municipality Food Security Programme is supplementary to the feeding programmes of the Department of Social Development, SASSA and community-based organisations and private donors. Over the last month almost 50 000 children in Drakenstein were fed via the School Feeding Scheme, and the local registered municipal soup kitchens also serve meals to tens of thousands of people every week.
All Drakenstein Municipality Food Security Programme applicants’ details are audited and verified by a municipal technical team to prevent possible “double dipping” and ensure that as many as possible people in need are assisted. The Municipality’s councillors are not involved in the selection of beneficiaries or the distribution of food e-vouchers or hampers.