In its quest to meet the needs of its residents bearing the brunt of the grip of Covid 19 lockdown, the eThekwini Municipality will tomorrow, 08 May 2020, commence with the rolling out of needed social relief programme. The programme will see multitudes ofdeserving residents receiving food hampers and vouchers worth R600, one of the biggest in the country. This follows Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda’s launch of the city’s social relief plan in KwaNyuswa recently, to agressively respond to COVID 19 socio-economicchallenges.

 

 Working with councillors, the City has identified 1000 indigent households from each ward. A list with ID Numbers has been compiled where each beneficiary is going to sign next to their ID details to prevent fraudulent activities. An amount of 66 million hasbeen set aside for this colossal programme.

 

 The City would like to denounce the narrative that it deliberately delayed the programme with the contempt it deserves. In as much as it is receptive of constructive criticism from the civil society and the opposition, it will never allow any frivolous attemptsto distract it from ensuring that only the poor benefits from this programme. The city had to follow supply chain processes to the latter to ensure that it gets value for tax-payers money.

 

 EThekwini is urging all involved in the programme to resist any temptation to do favours for their relatives and friends but rather treat all residents equally. Any officials and councillors that would be found to have acted unethically, they would be dealtwith in accordance with the code of conduct applicable.

 

 ENDS 

 

 For more information contact Mayoral Spokesperson Mluleki Mntungwa on 060 974 1140 or mluleki.mntungwa@durban.gov.za or Msawakhe Mayisela on 060 966 4220 or msawakhe.mayisela@durban.gov.za

 

 Issued by the eThekwini Municipality Acting Head of Commu