Minister for Environmental Affairs Barbara Creecy helped hand out thousands of food parcels to waste pickers who have been affected by the lockdown.

The minister, in partnership with Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa, met at Nungu Marketing and Distribution Centre in Midrand on 8 April where they prepared the food parcels.

These parcels were then delivered to a number of areas to feed local waste pickers and encourage them to stay home during this lockdown period.

“As the collection of recyclables has not been included as an essential service, the consequence of this is that waste pickers are unable to work during the lockdown period. As a result, hundreds of waste pickers are currently experiencing situations of extreme hardship,” said Creecy.

She also stressed the importance of private and public participation during this period. “We know there are people across our country experiencing very extreme hardships. We have, in particular, been concerned about waste pickers and recyclers, these are people who would under normal circumstances be living a hand-to-mouth existence.”

She added, “They really are in no position to survive the three weeks under lockdown.

“The consequences have been that many have been returning to the streets with the hope that households would provide food to them. Which put themselves and their families at risk.”

The minister concluded that, through the goodwill of the private sector, they are trying to provide support in the form of food to very indigent households so they can stay at home and protect themselves and their families from the virus.

Managing director for Coca-Cola Beverages SA, Velaphi Ratshefola, added that those who are working are privileged. “There are a lot of people not working. Those of us who are working should take care of our work and help other people.

“If we want a better tomorrow, we better plant it today and we plant it by giving back to our communities, particularly the most vulnerable people.”

He added that they have already given out 5 000 parcels since the start of the lockdown and this was the first initiative involving partnership with the Environmental Affairs Department.

Ratshefola concluded that the food parcels would be distributed to the waste pickers largely around Gauteng by a few non-government organisations.

Details: Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa www.ccbagroup.com