No drought food for Epukiro San since February
San communities at Epukiro and the surrounding areas of the Omaheke Region have not received any government food assistance in the past three months.The food aid, managed by the Division of Marginalised Communities, is intended to be delivered to San communities every month.
However, the Office of the President confirmed that the last food distribution under the Marginalised Communities Special Feeding Programme (MCSFP) in the Omaheke Region took place between 24 February and 19 March.
Sources within the San community in the Ju/'hoansi settlement on the outskirts of Epukiro said the communities in the Rooiland and Donkerhoek settlements on the outskirts of Epukiro last received government food aid three months ago.
The San people in the region face extreme poverty and hunger and are heavily reliant on government assistance for survival.
The suspension of aid has directly and severely impacted food insecurity within these communities.
Structural change
The Office of the President acknowledged the delay in food distribution.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah placed the division of marginalised communities under the supervision of Vice President Lucia Witbooi when she announced the restructuring in March 2025.
"This structural change has necessitated a review of administrative procedures, which unfortunately contributed to delays in the procurement of food items," said Mateus Kaholongo, acting executive director in the Office of the President.
Kaholongo added that contracted suppliers have now been instructed to deliver food items to regional warehouses for further distribution.
"The Office of the President sincerely regrets any inconvenience caused to the affected communities and assures all stakeholders that the monthly food distribution will resume without further disruption," he said.
He further emphasised that the government remains committed to supporting San communities through the MCSFP.
Resumption promised
Omaheke governor Pijoo Nganate addressed the delays, noting that food aid for other regional vulnerable groups is administered through the Office of the Prime Minister.
He stated that he had previously instructed officials that, in the absence of MCSFP support for the San, food assistance from other programmes should be extended to include them.
However, reports from Epukiro suggest this directive has not been consistently followed.
Local sources told this publication that while other ethnic groups in the area have continued receiving food aid in recent months, none has been passed on to the San.
Nganate said he was unaware that his instruction had not been implemented in some parts of the region.
Vice President Lucia Witbooi, now responsible for overseeing food assistance to marginalised communities, acknowledged the situation.
"I regret any inconvenience caused by this and can assure them that the distribution of food items will resume soon," she said.