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Est 2009 Issue 4 - 2016
28 January - 4 February 2016
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Inner-City Gazette
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City alleviates poverty “This means between now and June we will need about R30 million to feed the poor, mainly as a result of the escalating food prices. As a consequence we will now be providing food parcels twice a month instead of weekly” Katlego Moeng - news@gazettelive.co.za
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s the prices of fresh vegetables and fruits on Johannesburg’s streets rocket sky-high, the city’s department of social development says it has had to dig deep to ensure that the increasing number of people who need hunger relief are fed. The number of poor people who require assistance with food from the city will jump to 42 300 in February, a significant increase from the current 34 200 people. According to the city’s figures, which are mainly drawn from the Joburg Market, since beginning of the year, the price of potatoes has gone up by 95%, tomatoes (97%), onions (41%) and bananas (10%). Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Develop-
ment Councillor Nonceba Molwele says the Joburg Market accounts for 47% share of all fresh produce, which makes it the biggest in the country. Madima said the national drought had affected both the volumes and quality of the fresh produce delivered to the market and has hit the poor very hard. In the wake of the brewing crisis, the City will have to spend R30million between now and June this year to fund the City’s Food Resilience Programme after the number of beneficiaries of food parcels leapt almost twofold in two years, from last year’s 19 500. “This means between now and June we will need about R30 million to feed the poor, mainly as a result of the escalating food prices.
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the trade of fresh produce. We’re like the Joburg Stock Exchange – we provide sales processes and systems for approximately 5 000 active commercial and small-scale farmers,” he said. Lekgau said every month 100 000 tons of fresh produce are delivered to the market from all over the country. The market earns 5% from sales while market agents are paid a commission of not more than 7.5%. The rest is paid to farmers. “All farmers have been severely affected by this. But small-scale farmers are worse off. Overall production went down. The heat wave did a lot of damage,” Lekgau said.
Far right: Health and Social Development Councillor Nonceba Molwele
As a consequence we will now be providing food parcels twice a month instead of weekly,” Molwele said. Tshifhiwa Madima, Executive Manager of Agribusiness at the Joburg Market and his colleagues, Executive Manager: Strategy and Transformation Moronngoe Tladinyane and Agribusiness Specialist Researcher Sydwell Lekgau, said the drought had become very
severe. “This will increase food insecurity. (The Department of Social Development) might have to reduce the size of hampers so that what is available is spread evenly among the needy,” said Madima. “Year-on-year prices have gone up, while volumes have dropped,” said Madima “Our mandate is to provide a platform and systems to facilitate
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