TO: ALL MEDIA

DATE: 22 APRIL 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CONDUCTED AN OVERSIGHT VISIT TO THE GAUTENG FOOD DISTRIBUTION CENTRE

The Portfolio Committee of Social Development, chaired by Honourable Dr Tlou Chokoe, conducted an oversight visit to the newly established Gauteng Food Distribution Centre on Monday, 20 April 2026. The purpose of the visit was to ascertain whether the Distribution Centre has the capacity and enough resources for the people of Gauteng.


The Committee was joined by the GPL Chairperson of Committees Hon Bishop Dulton Adams to provide support to the committee especially with regards to the issues and persisting challenges pertaining to the distribution of food parcels to deserving beneficiaries within the province.


The Committee engaged the Department during 2025/26 FY, and it was informed that the centralization of food parcels was intended to establish a standardized approach to the provision of food parcels across programs and to strengthen the state’s capacity to care for and protect vulnerable children, youth and families.

During its oversight visit, the Committee established the following:

  • There are no personnel that have been appointed to perform the day-to-day operations in the Distribution Centre.
  • The Centre Manager/ person responsible for the Centre has been requested to temporarily stand in while other HR processes are being conducted.
  • There were limited food parcels which cannot be enough to feed over 3000 beneficiaries.
  • Vegetables, which are common perishable food items, have been stored in the cold storage for 8 days without being delivered to beneficiaries.

The Committee took a resolution to forward all its concerns and questions emanating from the visit to the Department for a response. Furthermore, the Committee will convene a meeting with the Department which will take place at the Distribution Centre during the month of May 2026.

ISSUED BY THE GPL’S COMMUNICATIONS UNIT ON BEHALF OF CHAIRPERSON OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, HON. DR TLOU CHOKOE

For media enquiries, please contact the committee’s Media Officer: Mr. Abe Mokoka Cell: 079 882 5425 Email: amokoka@gpl.gov.za