The North West Department of Local Government and Human Settlements will spent more than R38 million rand to rebuilt or renovate the 1446 houses which were affected by the earthquake that wrecked havoc in Orkney in August this year. The contractors are expected to take cite soon to kickstart the project whilst two more contractors have volunteered to rebuild the two most affected houses expeditiously.
MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, Collen Maine visited the affected families on Wednesday at Khuma township to reassure them that work on their damaged houses will start in earnest. “Government’s promise to our people for the repairs and rebuilding of some houses still stands. The money that we have requested for this intervention has just been approved after lengthy processes and happy to announce that we are ready to start with the process of intervening”, said MEC Maine.
MEC Maine said, “We will try to assist some so that they can have their shelter ready by Christmas but that will be hard to achieve as many companies will be closed soon. However most of the work will start in January and we expect completion in a space of about six months”.
MEC Maine visited the two most affected families of Melato and Lepholletse, which have since evacuated their unstable houses to stay with their relatives.
Darlington Melato (58) who stays with his family of six was breathing a sign of a relief. “We are thankful that finally the work will start soon. Surely we will be back in our house soon after its rebuilding. I’m more than happy”, he said.
Melato’s neighbour Gladys Lepholletsa (54) also expressed her delight following the reassurance by the MEC Maine. “Our house will be rebuilt and government is going to pay for all the cost. We couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas”.
On 5 of August 2014, the province experienced an earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale with a depth of 10km. Orkney area was the epicentre. 1446 houses were damaged. From the number, 1433 houses were partially damaged while 13 houses were completely damaged. Provincial EXCO declared the area the state of the provincial earthquake disaster in line with Section 41 of the Act.
Enquiries:
Ben Bole
Cell: 071 566 1399
E-mail: msbole@nwpg.gov.za
