News24.com | OPINION | Indeed\, food is not politics: Open letter to Dan Kriek

OPINION | Indeed, food is not politics: Open letter to Dan Kriek

Hannes Noeth is Hannes Noëth is the Executive Head, Solidarity Helping Hand. (Supplied)

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We are more than willing to work together with government, but we will not have them prescribe to us how we should do our jobs. We are siding with those who are in need, writes Hannes Noëth. 

Politics can be committed as much as one wants, but it is not going to fill hungry people’s empty stomachs. Solidarity Helping Hand (SHH) does not need to make public remarks to win political points.

We talk about what we are familiar with and experience every day. South Africa is facing one of the biggest economic and social crises in its recent history.

Millions of people are hungry and tens of thousands of people who’ve never experienced food shortages must now receive food parcels.  

SHH is facing those who are hungry.

Our task is to help.

If we then disagree with government about the centralising of food distribution and the regulating of food distribution, it is not because we are in a political battle with government, but because we are on the side of those who are hungry. 

If we must go to court because the government wants to control food distribution, it is because the centralisation of food distribution will hamper our ability to help and harm those in need.

We are a social organisation. We are not in the business of politics; we are not activists; we are in the business of caring, reaching out and helping. We do not expect everyone to agree with this. We also do not expect everyone to understand, but it is who we are and what we do.  

If the government prevents us and we fight against it, it is not for the politics of food but for silencing hunger.

In light of this, SHH was completely taken aback when the former president of AgriSA, Dan Kriek, made comments from the side-line, accusing SHH of politics because we are arguing with government, while we are essentially just trying to give people food.  

Because SHH understands hunger and are trying to effectively manage and fight against it as far as possible, we were able to provide help to 423 institutions in 10 regions, assist 6 512 families and distribute millions of rands to exact addresses per exact families through Josef Silos, our branches and regions.

We do not make side-line comments about politics in the hunger of people. No, we feed people daily and we do it with heart, in strength for hope - every single day.

We know that it is extremely essential that everyone who wants to help are allowed to do it as effectively and powerfully as possible. We cannot be limited to government’s red tape and regulations who is not accountable to those who are hungry.  

There are no points to be earned from caring for the poor, but merely an abundance of applications with limited help available. SHH is the first to admit, with everything we are doing, that we are doing too little to deal with all the need.

That is precisely why we are strongly opposed to a central food store and the regulations of food distribution by government. And yes, if it must, we will go to court about this matter.

Not for political points though, but because it is an essential principle. All possible help is necessary and necessary as effectively as possible.    

Our answer is short: our mission lies with the people who need it. Not with the politics, not with government and not with people who do not understand it.  

Indeed, the politics of food is dangerous.

Therefore, one must think clearly before making statements about it.

Contrary to what Dan Kriek claims, we do not want to recruit members, we just do not want food to be regulated and distributed centrally - surely it is fair and logical to understand?  

Therefore, SHH consulted with its legal team due to so-called further requirements from government organs, in addition to the existing Covid-19 regulations, which alarmingly indicate government centralisation and government regulation of food distribution.

For example, SHH has built up established structures through the years and know where the need is and how to address it.

We see what lies behind this, where government is heading with us and of course, we must speak up.

And loudly so if needs be. It does not help, as is often the case in South Africa, to say naively: “We never expected this to happen.”

If we must resist unnecessary rules and regulations to do our job, we will do it.

We are more than willing to work together with government, but we will not have them prescribe to us how we should do our jobs. We are siding with those who are in need.

This must be understood by the government, and everyone in and around politics.

To suddenly claim that we are trying to win political points, means that there is no understanding of the need from the indigent on ground level.

SHH prefers to just do our job. Leave us to do what we must do.  

Thus, if we issue press releases, it is not to seek credit for our work or to gain political points, but to inform the public of what happens with their donations, to highlight the need, and to emphasise the challenges non-government organisations must deal with if food distribution is centralised and regulated.

Naturally, SHH is thoroughly aware that there are regulations and safety measures in place and that it must be applied when it comes to food distribution, but when it comes down to the abuse of power by prescribing non-government organisations how and where food must be distributed, it is a different side to the coin.  

Indeed: Food is not politics and politics is not food either.

SHH’s task, calling and mission is from the poor and indigent, and they are the voice we listen to.

We act on their behalf, not for ourselves and not for government, and even less so for the abuse of power. We listen to those who are hungry!

Not to win political points from it.  

- Hannes Noëth, Executive Head, Solidarity Helping Hand