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'Supporting the poor is one of our greatest challenges'

WELCOME OFFERINGS: Mpumalanga health MEC Fish Mahlalela, in blue shirt in the middle, handed over food parcels to about 1000 families in Brooklyn, Acornhoek. 18/12/08. © Sowetan.
WELCOME OFFERINGS: Mpumalanga health MEC Fish Mahlalela, in blue shirt in the middle, handed over food parcels to about 1000 families in Brooklyn, Acornhoek. 18/12/08. © Sowetan.

Riot Hlatshwayo

Riot Hlatshwayo

The Siduduli'ndlala (fighting poverty) campaign, led by Mpumalanga MEC Fish Mahlalela, continues to assist impoverished families.

At a recent function in Brooklyn, near Acornhoek, Mahlalela handed out food parcels to nearly a thousand families - and uniforms to nearly 2000 school children.

"Poor households spending less than R300 a month on food - including child-headed households, people with disabilities, female-headed households with insufficient or no income - are the beneficiaries of this programme," Abie Ndlela, the province's social development spokesman, said yesterday.

Mahlalela said the age limit for the child support grant will be raised in 2009 - by one year - to include 14-year-olds.

"Children should go and register now so that from January they can get their grants again."

The MEC also announced that the qualifying age for the state's old-age pension for males had been reduced from 65 this year - to 61 in 2009 and 60 by 2010.

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