A coalition of community-based organisations have launched a petition demanding that the SA government halt its donation to Cuba and redirect the R50m to the hunger crisis in SA.
The coalition consists of national and regional hunger relief, humanitarian, disaster response, food rescue and feeding scheme NGOs. It ranges from community-based soup kitchens to large national organisations.
The coalition told TimesLIVE there is a growing hunger problem in SA which can be addressed in collaboration with the government.
“The coalition believes that an end to hunger is possible — but only through the collaboration of government and non-government organisations uniting efforts, expertise and resources,” it said.
“The coalition believes the donation of R50m to a foreign country on the basis of international relations is a gross misallocation of funds, at best".
It said there have been increased public pleas from people with stories of starving children and the sick and elderly who struggle to feed themselves and/or their families.
“These organisations have united to call upon government not just to halt the donation to Cuba, but more importantly to meet them to discuss ways in which to collaboratively address the dire and growing problem and to take collaborative action to end hunger in our own country.”
The petition has an initial target of 500 signatures and had received just over 490 by Friday morning.
Deputy minister of international relations and co-operation Alvin Botes told a parliamentary portfolio committee last week the donation would help Cuba's food insecurity amid US sanctions.
Petition to halt government's R50m donation to Cuba gains momentum
The coalition led by Chefs with Compassion told TimesLIVE there is a growing hunger problem in SA which can be addressed in collaboration with the government.
A coalition of community-based organisations have launched a petition demanding that the SA government halt its donation to Cuba and redirect the R50m to the hunger crisis in SA.
The coalition consists of national and regional hunger relief, humanitarian, disaster response, food rescue and feeding scheme NGOs. It ranges from community-based soup kitchens to large national organisations.
The coalition told TimesLIVE there is a growing hunger problem in SA which can be addressed in collaboration with the government.
“The coalition believes that an end to hunger is possible — but only through the collaboration of government and non-government organisations uniting efforts, expertise and resources,” it said.
“The coalition believes the donation of R50m to a foreign country on the basis of international relations is a gross misallocation of funds, at best".
It said there have been increased public pleas from people with stories of starving children and the sick and elderly who struggle to feed themselves and/or their families.
“These organisations have united to call upon government not just to halt the donation to Cuba, but more importantly to meet them to discuss ways in which to collaboratively address the dire and growing problem and to take collaborative action to end hunger in our own country.”
The petition has an initial target of 500 signatures and had received just over 490 by Friday morning.
Deputy minister of international relations and co-operation Alvin Botes told a parliamentary portfolio committee last week the donation would help Cuba's food insecurity amid US sanctions.
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