South Africa: ANC members suspected of receiving preferential treatment for food aid

Reports are circulating across South Africa of members of the governing African National Congress (ANC) political party receiving preferential treatment in the distribution of food aid during the country’s coronavirus lockdown. 

On Wednesday, residents of Calvinia in Northern Cape province blocked roads and started fires on the streets in protest of the belief that only ANC voters were receiving food parcels. 

Meanwhile, in KwaZulu-Natal province, former ANC MP Makhosi Khoza tweeted that she was being inundated with phone calls from people claiming that ANC council members were handing out food to friends and family. 

Similar reports have been logged across the country, with one mayoral candidate for the opposition Democratic Alliance party accusing ANC members of setting up a black market for the food parcels.

Randall Williams, who is contesting the mayoralty of Tshwane, told reporters that former ANC councillors were selling food parcels for R50 in Soshanguve.

The Daily Maverick newspaper has reported that food parcels are being sold for as much as R1,200 in Bloemfontein. 

The parcels consist of 1kg of sugar, a tin of sardines, a loaf of brea, maize and a head of cabbage. 

Photo: Gallo Images