Protector assesses work after E Cape floods
Mkhwebane not happy with other areas’ progress
Public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane is unhappy at the lack of progress in assisting disaster victims in parts of the OR Tambo area where houses were washed away by raging floods in January.
However, in the Buffalo City Metro (BCM) she was pleased by the strides taken by the municipality to move people from areas prone to flooding.
Mkhwebane’s visit to the Eastern Cape was to inspect flood-ravaged areas as part of her office’s oversight work.
She walked around Mdantsane NU3, the Mathemba Vuso informal settlements where she saw appalling conditions in an area she said was “uninhabitable”.
“We visit these areas to prevent a situation like in Ngqeleni, Mthatha where we found that government promised to move and build houses for people but that still hasn’t been done,” she said.
“Here in the BCM floods took place in January and yet there are still people who live in areas that are prone to flooding.
“However, the situation is promising because we saw that there is some progress because some people have moved to safer areas.
“I am partially happy with the progress here in the BCM because temporary and dignified shelters were provided.
“I was not happy to see the situation of the Mathemba Vuso residents. I am, however, happy after seeing that some people were moved to habitable temporary structures in Mtsotsho.
“I’ll be much happier if the remaining people are moved as well. I think it’s for the BCM to ensure that areas prone to floods are cordoned off so that no one lives there again.”
She said she would communicate with the premier Oscar Mabuyane to find out why some people were left behind while others moved to a safer place.
Mathemba Vuso resident Zanele Fali said they were sidelined by the area’s ward councillor, who only assisted one side of the area leaving others in squalor.
“This whole area was flooded but when the support came, only a certain group benefited.
“We were initially told to write our names on a list and we never heard from anyone from the municipality again.”
Buffalo City ward 17 councillor Veliswa Mrwebi, said the Mathemba Vuso residents who did not get any assistance had written their names on the wrong list.
“They never reported their situation to me as councillor but to another community member who was also coordinating a list, which never came to me.
“However, with the next round of visitation by government officials, they will be moved to a safer area.”
Mrwebi said those who were already in temporary structures would soon move to new government houses being built in the ward.
“The people who are in the temporary shelters will be prioritised for the new houses being built in the ward.”