Province acts on hunger: 400,000 residents to receive aid from new centre

Gauteng

Johannesburg – The Gauteng Provincial Government has officially launched the Gauteng Food Distribution Centre, a move aimed at improving food security across the province and supporting over 400,000 beneficiaries, officials announced on Sunday.

The launch, part of the “Fetsa Tlala – Leaving No One Behind” programme, took place on 22 March 2026 and seeks to combat hunger, reduce food insecurity, and strengthen government capacity to deliver services to vulnerable communities.

The centre will serve as a central hub for collecting, storing, and distributing food supplies, improving coordination among non-profit organisations, community-based groups, and other stakeholders. Officials say it will also reduce food wastage while ensuring that aid reaches those most in need.

Through the department’s accelerated food distribution programme, the launch has already created 70 temporary jobs, with plans for further sustainable employment opportunities as the programme expands.

MEC for Social Development Faith Mazibuko spoke at the launch, highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting communities:

“The establishment of the Food Distribution Centre demonstrates government’s continued dedication to ensuring that no resident of Gauteng goes hungry and that communities are supported with dignity and care,” Mazibuko said.

She added that the provincial government is committed to working with stakeholders to expand access to food relief and create sustainable solutions to poverty and inequality:

“We are committed to collaborating with all stakeholders to expand access to food relief and create sustainable solutions to poverty and inequality,” she said.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, the Democratic Alliance (DA) criticised the Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) for centralising food banks, warning that the move left thousands of residents hungry.

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Social Development Refiloe Nt’sekhe said centralisation created logistical and access barriers for vulnerable households, despite the province achieving high distribution volumes.

“Thousands of Gauteng residents are experiencing extreme hunger following the GDSD’s controversial decision to centralise food banks. Some households go for days without food, even though they are officially recorded as beneficiaries,” Nt’sekhe said.

The DA highlighted that while food distribution targets were exceeded at the centre level, effective reach at the household level lagged behind, leaving vulnerable communities without timely access to aid. Nt’sekhe said a DA-led provincial government would decentralise distribution through community-based non-profit organisations and improve supply chain management to prevent delays.

The launch of the Gauteng Food Distribution Centre seeks to address these challenges by creating a central hub to improve access and efficiency, while generating employment and ensuring food reaches the province’s most vulnerable residents.

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