Issued by: Ministry: Social Development
15 August 2001
The Minister of Social Development Dr. Zola Skweyiya has expressed utter shock and indignation at the reported increasing number of children dying from malnutrition and hunger resultant from extreme poverty in the Mt. Ayliff area of the Eastern Cape.
The Minister has subsequently instructed the national Department of Social Development to find ways of providing immediate ways of relief for affected families and the community.
"This report of an increasing number of children dying from malnutrition even before reaching the age of one is indeed a serious indictment on us as a nation and calls for immediate and drastic action by all. Be it the government, the business sector, labour, the communities and not least the international community, to close ranks and act more decisively in tackling the scourge of poverty and other social ills, including malnutrition and communicable diseases like HIV/AIDS, especially in the rural areas." Said the Minister.
"We owe it especially to our children and the future of the country to unite in our actions in making sure that our democracy really and quickly translates into a better quality of life for all, especially our children in living in poor communities." Continued the Minister.
The Minister said this following reports by the SABC programme "Special Assignment" which was broadcast last night about the situation pertaining in Mt. Ayliff.
The Minister will visit the area tomorrow at 10:00 where he will switch on electricity at Nolitha Special School for children with mental and physical disabilities.
The Minister is expected to make serious announcement of steps that the Department will immediately undertake on poverty for the most affected families and the community.
Some of the measures the Minister is expected to announce relate to fast tracking access to Child Support Grant as well allocation of more than a million Rands for poverty relief.
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