Families in Taung, whose houses were destroyed in the wake of the recent devastating floods, can look forward to assistance from the North West’s Department of Human Settlements.
This follows the visit by the MEC for Human Settlements, Desbo Mohono in the area. The purpose of her visit was to assess the impact and extent of the damage caused by the floods. Villages mostly affected are Losasaneng, Gataole, Mmadipelesa, Cokonyane and Manthe villages where most of the destroyed homes were mud houses.
Mohono has requested the Greater Taung Local Municipality to urgently complete an audit on the houses that have been damaged. “The situation of our people in Taung is serious. They need assistance today, not next week,” she said. The MEC said the report would determine the scope of work that needed to be done in assisting the victims.
Briefing the MEC on behalf of the newly inaugurated Municipality’s Mayor Itumeleng Makgalemane, the Municipality’s Municipal Manager Mpho Mofokeng said about 580 houses was destroyed by the recent floods. However, there is a possibility that the number may go up as the municipality’s disaster management team is still working tirelessly on the assessment.
Most of the victims are accommodated at their neighbours’ houses who are also living in fear because their cracked mud houses might collapse any time. Mohono said the affected houses should be considered as emergency. Mohono requested the municipality to fast-track the assessment process and further re-direct the current RDP housing projects to the emergency houses to accommodate the distressed flood victims. “It is important that victims are relieved on time because emergency cannot last for more than six months,” said Mohono.
Mohono further requested all ward councillors in the area to conduct a comprehensive audit on all mud houses across the municipality. “The majority of people living in these mud houses are elders and as a department, we have a responsibility to ensure that their lives are bettered by providing them with proper houses,” she said.
Enquiries:
Cornelius Tanana Monama
Cell: 082 578 4063
Tel: 018 391 0420
