Alexandra’s ward 107 councilor Ambe Maseko is said to be involved in food parcels scandal where it is alleged she chased away an NGO wanting to donate food parcels at Helen Joseph hostel and removing young people at the women hostel.
The councilor who was invited on Alex Fm to talk about the issue after it was alleged that she chased away Ray Of Hope a non-profit organization that has been in the fore front of fighting food security in the township by donating food parcels to the community at this time of need, denied the claims and said she only warned the NPO to move away from the gate as they were blocking it for cars making it entrance. According to Rays of hope they said “When they see danger they left” what danger was it, nobody knows.
It was also alleged that the councilor doesn’t want young people occupying rooms at the hostel even if the rooms were left to them by their mothers and they pay rent. The councilor speaking on air said she doesn’t work together with youth and doesn’t even recognize it as they are kids who came with their mothers to the hostel. she only works with block representatives and those living at the hostel with permits and paying rent.
Whether young people were allowed or not allowed to reside at the women’s hostel councilor Maseko declined to comment on that.
Young people who were invited to be part of the dialogue and a lot of callers, who called in to the station accused the councilor of being rude, not being able to communicate with people in a civil manner.
In the topic of being involved in food parcels although she (Cllr Maseko) declined being involved in the distribution of food parcels and said the block reps were the one involved in registering the names of hostel dwellers for the parcels and submitting them to relevant organization/departments, the public remained on their words that she was involved.
