Private donations cause conflict in Zandspruit

The donation of 100 bags of maize meal to the DA, which in turn were donated to a select number of residents in Zandspruit, has allegedly caused conflict.

DA Wards 100 and 114 PR councillor, Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, said a DA community leader woke up to scores of people outside his house on Monday, 13 April, wanting to be added to the ‘list’ after some residents had received maize meal from a Good Samaritan.

The donation by the Good Samaritan was not a government donation, but it was private to assist residents who were excluded from a list of food parcel recipients.

“I received images from someone in Zandspruit saying that people had gathered outside the house of one of the DA leaders because they saw maize meal being donated, and were now trying to get hold of me to also get their names on the list to receive assistance,” she explained.

She said she told the leader to ask them to contact the ward councillor for such assistance. “They allegedly said they had tried, but could not get hold of him, or get him to take down their names for government food parcels.

“As always I can only take names of the people who contact me and forward them, and how they get helped is out of my control,” Belinda clarified.

Regarding gatherings outside the leader’s home, she advised the leadership to contact the Johannesburg Metro Police Department to intervene as the lockdown prohibits people from moving around and gathering in groups.