​Thembisa Shologu
As part of its social relief programme, the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) has provided 524 567 households with food parcels and supporting a total of 2 622 835 people since lockdown.
The relief effort was targeted at reaching the vulnerable families experiencing severe food insecurity during the lockdown period has seen GPG accounting for 42.6% of the total Social Development Food Relief distribution across the country. 
"We received 380 395 calls with an overall response rate of 133.2%. However, the demand for food far outstrips our capacity to meet the need.
"We continue to call for more support from business, foundations and civil society initiatives on food relief. However, such initiatives must be coordinated with government and the distribution should avoid breaching social distancing regulations," said Premier David Makhura.
Meanwhile, the GPG working together with municipalities has provided 45 temporary shelter to the homeless across the Province. 
"The provincial government has provided 2 619 homeless people with three meals on a daily basis plus psychosocial support, medical assessments and treatment for substance abuse. 
"Five hundred and ninety (590) homeless beneficiaries have absconded from shelters to return to the streets, 611 have self-discharged themselves and 483 beneficiaries were re-united with families from April – 18 August 2020. Other beneficiaries have been sent to Rehabilitation Centres for substance use disorders," said Premier Makhura.
In addition, over 1,4 million school nutrition has been provided to needy learners including the provision of psychosocial support for the 20 children that are doing home schooling.