Today the programme of support to victims of the recent floods was extended by Government and much appreciated assistance from the private sector. The various Government Departments continued its humanitarian support across the Province and especially to the displaced community members. The Department of Social Development provided displaced members of the community in De Beershoogte, who were relocated to a community hall when one of the dam walls collapsed on Tuesday destroying their informal houses, with blankets, mattresses, toiletry packs, sanitary towels, disposable nappies, milk formula, school uniforms and mobile toilets. The Department also provided on site counselling services to help the community members deal with the trauma that hit them.
The Department of Health made available a mobile clinic to distribute chronic medication to needy patients, medication for minor ailments as well as doing HIV counselling and testing (HCT) and tuberculosis (TB) screenings.
The Department of Home Affairs assisted the community members with new Identification Document applications and birth certificates because these could not be retrieved from the flooded homes.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) were on site to help community members with grant applications to ensure timeous receipt of grants at the end of the month.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture will be making available recreational activities to the children so that they are not caught up too much with the despair that is currently facing them. The Acting Premier, Mr Alvin Botes yesterday also encouraged the parents to send the children to school and the early childhood development centres.
Shoprite mobile kitchen made available bread and soup to the community members at De Beershoogte and two local businesses, Global Post Trading and Wills construction made contributions ranging from a tent for shelter, cooked food and school uniforms. Contact has been made with local businesses to come on board and provide further assistance.
The Sol Plaatje Local Municipality has availed Rekaofela Resort to effected families to serve as washing facility. The Dikgatlong Municipality will provide a bus to transport people to Rekaofela Resort to access washing facilities. The Municipality is looking at relocating these community members to an alternative area and will make known their plans shortly.
The Provincial Government would like to thank all the volunteers who have been working tirelessly to ease the suffering of the flood victims and Government commits to continue with its relief efforts for as long as the need requires.
Contact person:
Monwabisi Nkompela
Executive Manager - Information and Communications Technology
Cell: 074 128 0169
