Karabo Ntanzi
Residents in several informal settlements in the Sol Plaatje Municipality have pleaded with the provincial government to accelerate the provision of housing. The plea comes from families in Roodepan who were displaced after their shacks were blown away during heavy rainfall and strong winds last weekend.
An assessment by provincial departments including Social Development and Human Settlement revealed that residents in Frances Baard, Pixley Ka Seme and ZF Mgcawu were affected by heavy rains as their houses were either flooded or blown away. Some displaced families were accommodated at churches as they lost everything including school books, identity documents, clothing and food.
Pastor Lizzy Saul, from Patricia Maserame Galeboe (PMG) Ministries said people have lost everything during the heavy rains. She pleaded with government to assist families with clothing and corrugated iron sheets, “We just want this thing to end off with counseling for the families, especially kids. I was talking to someone who told me that he doesn’t want to go back to that place.”
Constance Miller, a resident of White City informal settlement in Roodepan said her nephew escaped death after his shack was blown away while inside, “There was a launch in Roodepan promising people houses. We are now in April and we are still waiting.”
“It seems they are not going to build houses for us. This is a disaster. Whenever there is big rain and storms we are left to deal with this. People need houses. This displacement is an indication of lack of proper housing,” said a displeased Miller.
During the launch of the R1 billion housing project in January 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa and Northern Cape Premier Zamani Saul, the MEC of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs, Bentley Vass raised a concern about informal settlements.
Meanwhile, at Kutlwanong, several houses were flooded as torrential rains persisted. Frustrated residents took to the streets by barricading roads with burning tires, trees and rocks complaining about a water canal in the area. Residents highlighted that whenever it rains water from the canal flows into their homes and damages their properties.
According to Sol Plaatje Municipality plans are afoot to relocate residents in a low-lying area to another land or extend the canal so that water is prevented from going to the local residential area.
Comments are closed.