Picture: North West Social Development’s Head of Department, Peggy Mhlongo-Kgaboesele together with North West MEC of Health, Sello Lehari/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
3 July 2026 – The North West Department of Social Development together with the Department of Health, distributed food parcels to needy households at Matlwang village, near Potchefstroom as part of the provincial service delivery programme, Thuntsha Lerole. Thuntsha Lerole is the North West Provincial Government’s Accelerated Service Delivery Programme that showcases an ongoing commitment to fast-track service delivery and bring government services closer to communities.
The Head of Department of North West Department of Social Development, Peggy Mhlongo-Kgaboesele said through the social relief of distress programme, the department is working tirelessly to ensure that no person goes to bed hungry. Mhlongo-Kgaboesele emphasised that food parcels are being distributed to individuals, child headed households and families in dire need of assistance.
“Handing out food parcels is a short-term measure that we use to intervene in the plight of the needy. Other interventions that we are nurturing include profiling and identifying young people and equipping them with security courses and driver’s licenses.
“Other than these interventions, our department can assist indigent families to create their own food gardens in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, so that they could be self-sustainable and not continue to rely on food parcels,” she said.
She further said the food parcels are nutritional food items such large packets of mealie meal, sugar, baked beans, salt, vegetables, rice, tea, tins of fish and bottles of cooking oil for each of the beneficiaries. Mhlongo-Kgaboesele added that they provide essential sustenance and are a critical lifeline for people living below the breadline by offering immediate relief from hunger.
“Among the 100 beneficiaries from Matlwang, Radimo, Phalakgomo and Kgapamadi villages, who received food parcels as a lifeline is Dimpho Nthongwa (22), who is an orphan and manning the day-to-day affairs of family after her parents died.
“Her younger sister matriculated last year. The two of them are unemployed and live below the breadline. Currently they depend on an electrical infrastructure and construction learnership programme to make ends meet,” said Mhlongo-Kgaboesele.
Meanwhile, Nthongwa, an aspiring electrician, said she is grateful to the department for remembering them during their time of need.
“This is a great relief to us. This is the grocery that we could not afford to buy. It will take us a long time to finish it,” she said.
The Guardian 