Gauteng govt, Joburg to assist Soweto flood victims
Gauteng Human
Settlements MEC Lebogang Maile has formed a task team with Joburg MMC for Human
Settlements Mlungisi Mabaso to repair hostels and informal settlement damaged
by floods over the weekend.
Transport MMC Funzi Ngobeni will also form part of the team.
Maile and Ngobeni visited Nancefield hostel in Soweto on Monday to assess the damage caused by this weekend’s flooding.
The city said the flooding affected close to 400 families in the area.
Mabaso said he had been at the hostel since Saturday.
“We really need to develop hostels. The living conditions in hostels are no longer conducive for people to live in. We will work with the provincial government to improve living conditions in hostels across the city.
“As an immediate intervention, temporary structures will be erected in Nancefield hostel to accommodate residents living in the dilapidated structures.
“At the moment, no one has been evacuated. They have asked to be given time to assess the weather first and see how the clean-up goes.”
Maile said the provincial government would assist with funding if needed.
“I’ve made a commitment to the MMCs that if there is a need for additional funding we will definitely come to the party, working with national government. This is a big problem; it needs all spheres of government.”
Meanwhile, Ngobeni committed to building a bridge in the area to redirect the water flow.
“Mabaso advised that the construction of the bridge on Klipspruit Valley Road may have had an impact on the stream that forced water to flow towards the hostel.
“We are hoping that by the end of January or beginning of February, we should be done with the project. We anticipate that there will be delays in completing the project in November. As you would have seen, the work is still underway.”
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