06 May 2020

Assessment and assistance of eligible candidates for COVID-19 relief food basket is work in progress, but there is shortage of some food items, says Ghanzi District Council secretary, Mr Dick Kalantle.
  
Though he did not single out the food items in an interview on Tuesday, he said shortage was due to high demand.

He, however, said once such items become available, those who were given incomplete baskets would be visited again and be given the omitted food items. 

Also, Mr Kalantle regretted that some trucks owners were declining offers to deliver food baskets to households, saying serving 20 households at price tag of P300 is unprofitable. 

He however, stated that in most instances they used government vehicles pulled from other government department. 

Concerning progress of the initiative in general, Mr Kalantle stated that out of 11 695 assessed households, 9327 households needed assistance. 
 
He said deserving households had started receiving the food baskets as of May 3 and a total of 6797 households had already been given their food hampers. 

Mr Kalantle noted susceptible and hard to reach areas like Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve (CKGR) are given special attention and even water supply is closely monitored and they currently bowse the area twice a week.
 
He appealed to the public to go through proper channels when they feel they are omitted for COVID-19 food basket relief than resorting to social media. Ends