By Nthambeleni Gabara
Malale – Residents of the deep rural village of Malale, in Limpopo have received some relief from their reality of poverty and hunger in the form of food donation packs.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana and his Deputy General Bheki Cele arrived at the village on Thursday with food donation packs to build a food mountain to commemorate World Food Day.
Minister Senzeni and his Deputy Cele are expected to distribute the food parcels to the destitute families later this afternoon.
This food mountain, which has never been seen elsewhere in the country, is a joint effort by government and the public sector to eradicate hunger.
Residents hailed the arrival of the food mountain at their village.
A volunteer at a local drop-in centre, Azwindini Mulovhedzi, 41, said: "We welcome and appreciate government’s intervention to eradicate hunger at our village. We thought we were forgotten by government because we are in a very remote area but with this food mountain we can see that government also cares for the poor.”
At the drop-in centre, Mulovhedzi and her colleagues help those affected by food insecurity with daily meals. They also introduce orphans to social workers who help them with social welfare.
Malale, which is the last village at the far northern part of the South African border, is situated adjacent to the Limpopo River.
The nearest clinic at the dry village is at Madimbo village which is about 10km away, while the secondary school is at Tshiungani village which is 15km away.
At this remote village with its high levels of unemployment, there is only one primary school.
Malale Primary School Principal Raudzingana Netshithuthuni said the food mountain will boost the National School Nutrition Programme.
"There is poverty here and most parents work in local farms. There are those who still find it difficult to feed their families.
"Due to the National School Nutrition Programme, school attendance is not an issue because learners know that it is only at school they receive a meal.”
At the school, which caters for Grade R to Grade 7, there are 662 learners, 18 teachers and eight classrooms.
This year's World Food Day is commemorated under the theme "Feeding the world, caring for the earth". - SAnews.gov.za
