At least 500 households, whose homes were destroyed by heavy rains in Cape Town, are being temporarily relocated to safer accommodations, as gale-force winds and heavy rains persist.
This comes after Human Settlements Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, visited the affected areas on Thursday.
Kubayi and Deputy Minister Tandi Mahambehlala led a Human Settlements delegation to the region. They were to assess progress of interventions for families in desperate need of shelter in the unrelenting cold and wet weather.
Various disaster-stricken areas in Khayelitsha
The ministerial delegation visited various disaster-stricken areas in Khayelitsha. These include Nkandla, Zami Mpilo, Kuyasa and Victoria Mxenge in the Western Cape.
Scores of people have been left temporarily homeless due to water-logged homes across the province. This as wet weather and flooding continues.
Kubayi said the department’s immediate intervention is to relocate families. They will be accommodated at the Western Cape School of Governance. There the department will enter into a lease agreement of 30 days.
Kubayi said the department must identify land in two weeks. She added that she has spoken to all the affected families, and they have agreed to move.
“Our concern is mainly that with a level 8 warning, it means the rain will continue. And we do not want these communities to continue in this dire state. Where their shelters are submerged under water.
“We are moving them to a safe place at least for 30 days while we look at alternative land parcels. [That is] where they can be permanently relocated to build a new life away from flood plains,” Kubayi said.
Relocation of families
The minister noted that the relocation for the community is not only in one ward. It will expand to more areas currently in danger or Category C informal settlements [immediate relocation].
She said the City of Cape Town alone has over 800 informal settlements in danger zones. She emphasised a need for a more proactive approach when dealing with disasters.
“We need to put preventative measures in place, and this work is ongoing. I have instructed MECs in all nine provinces to identify more of these Category-C informal settlements. This is so that work can continue to mitigate imminent disasters,” Kubayi said.
The department also provides the Informal Settlement Upgrading grant to provinces and municipalities. This is part of disaster intervention and mitigation measures. It entails the upgrading of informal settlements in-situ. This means (developing the area where an informal settlement is located). It’s done by providing bulk infrastructure like storm water drainage to avert flooding.
Kubayi also underscored the need to put in place bulk infrastructure. This is to mitigate against a situation where people are locked in water. She noted that some areas they visited have no proper stormwater drainage system to absorb water during heavy rains.
The minister also emphasised the response to disasters. She said this requires all the affected government departments to play their part. This will ensure that the victims are attended to.
“This is because beyond the provision of shelter for the victims, there are other needs. Such as transport, protection of property (which in some cases gets stolen). Also food and other necessities,” she said.
Efforts by NGOs lauded
Kubayi further acknowledged efforts by NGOs, including the Gift of the Givers. They continuously work with government during emergencies.
She assured that the teams will continue with work onsite throughout the weekend. They will be assessing the structural integrity of damaged formal structures.
“The team from Human Settlements Emergency Housing has been on the ground since the disaster. It includes the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC). They provide the necessary support to those who have lost their informal structures. These are in Monwabisi, New Monwabisi Park, and Kuyasa informal settlements. As well as to assess the damage caused to permanent structures,” Kubayi said.
- SAnews.gov.za
