HOUSING MINMEC STATEMENT ON STORM DAMAGE IN KWAZULU-NATAL, NORTH WEST AND LIMPOPO

The Minister of Housing Lindiwe Sisulu and the country’s nine MECs for Housing (MINMEC) wish to extend sympathies to those families left homeless by the devastating storm which destroyed hundreds of homes and severely damaged scores of others in these provinces.

MINMEC is very concerned about the plight of affected families and resolved to ensure that all assistance is made possible.

However, MINMEC must reject the perception that only subsidy houses were devastated as a significant number of other homes were also destroyed or severely damaged by the extremely high winds.

An assessment of the damage of ALL properties is already underway so that the appropriate levels of support to repair the homes are rapidly made available. In KwaZulu-Natal, a report will be submitted to the provincial Cabinet as soon as possible.

Government has an emergency housing policy which has been revised by MINMEC and adjusted to ensure maximum assistance to poor and indigent families in times of distress.

MINMEC wants to appeal to communities to co-operate to allow authorities to relocate them to safe areas. Some of the incidents may have been avoided if people would not continue to live in hazardous areas.

For further information, please contact Marianne Merten, MLO, 078 801 9069 or Lennox Mabaso, spokesperson for KZN MEC for Housing and Local Government Mike Mabuyakhulu 082 884 2403