On Friday, the DA will address the Minister of Social Development in court over the controversial proposed regulations governing the distribution of food aid.
The application comes after Lindiwe Zulu’s department put a ban on soup kitchens and tightened lockdown regulations that hamper the distribution of food aid by non-governmental and welfare organizations. The draft regulations were promulgated two weeks ago and are being enforced, although not yet promulgated.
The DA says many of the organizations have been ordered by police or other officials to stop distributing food. “We believe thousands of people are either starving or malnourished by the decision,” said DA member James Lorimer.
The DA claims in court documents that the regulations are “vague, irrational and unfair” and are drawn up in a manner that is procedurally unfair. The party also argues that it limits the right of access to food as contained in the Constitution.
The DA asks that the enforcement of the regulations be declared unlawful and that the minister and the national police chief should bring it to the attention of their members. The party is also asking the court to prohibit Zulu from issuing regulations in their current “unlawful and unconstitutional format”.
If the regulations are properly implemented by the time the case is heard, the DA asks the court to set aside the provisions.
The DA argues the regulations are enforced as if they were already legislation, while not yet promulgated or promulgated, and asks the court to stop this unlawful conduct.
In its court documents, the DA says if it continues to unlawfully enforce the regulations, it will deprive the most vulnerable and needy people in the society of food. “It is going to threaten the right of access to food from thousands of people who have no other way of feeding themselves.
“The danger of mass famine is a reality. It also comes at a time in our country when more and more people are starving because they no longer have an income and cannot access food without assistance, ”the application states.
