Gallery
KNYSNA NEWS - SA National Parks (SANParks) has joined the fight against hunger in Knysna, with the Garden Route National Park's Knysna section handing over 160 food parcels to those in need this week.
With millions around the country and thousands in Knysna struggling to make ends meet without an income during lockdown, hunger has become one of the biggest challenges facing the population. Various organisations have done their bit, collecting food around town or accepting monetary donations to purchase food for distribution.
Nationally, SANParks has donated food parcels to 7 500 families using funds procured through donations by SANParks honorary rangers as well as the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
In Knysna, GRNP enlisted the help of the municipality to assist with the distribution of the food parcels, using the municipality's register of people who have been approved for the reception of food parcels.
"It's a great system for us to use, because it allows us to see who really needs food parcels, and also when last someone received one, so if they received one in April they would need another one in May," said Megan Taplin, manager of the Knysna section of the GRNP, during the handovers earlier this week.
Photo gallery; Food parcels to the needy in Knysna
The first donations in the form of 100 food parcels were made on Monday 11 May, being distributed to families in Hornlee, Dam-se-Bos and Qolweni.
Knysna Deputy Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa commended SANParks for their continued support. "Even before these donations, you have assisted us [Knysna Municipality] greatly in the fight against this virus," Tsengwa said. "When we needed help with vehicles for transport, you always assisted without hesitation, and we are very grateful for the work you have done."
The parcels handed over included items such as potatoes, maize meal, cooking oil, samp, hand sanitisers and masks.
The first 100 families were identified and received their parcels on Monday 11 May, with the remaining 60 set to receive theirs today, Thursday 14 May.
ihlali Zantsi smiles brightly as she receives her food parcel from Deputy Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa and GRNP Knysna section manager Megan Taplin.
Nekkies resident Yamikani Kasalika receives his food parcel from Deputy Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa and GRNP Knysna section manager Megan Taplin.
Dear reader, As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Group Editors (publications and online platforms) is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
'We bring you the latest Knysna, Garden Route news'
