‘Lack of political will to help KZN flood victims’

THE SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has claimed that there is a shortage of drinking water, sanitation remains a challenge and the delivery of houses is moving at a snail’s pace, months after the floods devastated KwaZulu-Natal.

The commission appeared before the ad hoc Joint Committee on Flood Disaster Relief and Recovery on Monday to present its findings on the progress achieved in addressing the ongoing human impact of the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and North West.

The SAHRC told the committee that in some instances seven family members share a two-roomed unit, with no running drinking water, nor privacy for anyone.

“In addition, there is no security in the temporary shelters and women, in particular, are at serious risk.”

The commission also found learners’ rights to education have been severely curtailed after 500 schools were damaged in the floods and some schools were closed temporarily.

“A number of learners have also lost important documents, uniforms, textbooks and other school-related items. What is more, the bodies of some of those who died in the floods have not been recovered, while unclaimed bodies lie in the mortuaries.”

The SAHRC said there seems to be a lack of political will to improve the plight of the afflicted.

Co-chairperson of the committee, Jomo Nyambi, said the ad hoc committee made the same observation during its various oversight visits.

The KZN Department of Human Settlement denied the accusations that the government lacks political will, saying this has always been there.

Department spokesperson Mlungisi Khumalo said: “With respect to the slow delivery of houses, it should be remembered the department’s approach to the plight of the floods victims was two-pronged, it had to build TRUs for those needing immediate shelter while subjected to real time auditing of the procurement processes by the Office of the Auditor-General.”