About 11 000 food parcels containing maize meal, loaves of bread, food hampers, soap, sanitiser and masks were distributed to residents of the Iterileng informal settlement near Laudium in Pretoria on Wednesday.
According to joint coordinator Yusuf Abramjee, queues started forming from 16:00, and at times it stretched for some 3km.
The distribution was a joint initiative by Meal SA, Operation SA, the South African National Zakah Fund, Pepkor, the Tshwane Muslim community, Valtrans, Foodline, Advance Cash & Carry, Kit Kat and others.
Abramjee said the need for food was "massive and people are desperate".
Community member Asgar Akoob, also a coordinator, said Wednesday's distribution of food and sanitising products followed a previous distribution in Mooiplaas, Spruit, that saw to the needs of close to 10 000 recipients who turned out in a queue of close to 3km.
