MEDIA STATEMENT
TO ALL MEDIA
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
9 FEBRUARY 2023
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS RESPONSE TO THE FLOODS DISASTER THAT LEFT FAMILIES HOMELESS IN THE CHRIS HANI DISTRICT
Following the devastating floods that left many households in Komani homeless, the department has through the Joint Operation Centre (JOC) consisting of Provincial and Local Government swiftly assessed the impact of the disaster. The department of Human Settlements working with other departments and municipalities has assessed the impact of the disaster and 227 households were identified to be in immediate need of shelter.
Honourable MEC Siphokazi Lusithi expressed that “As the department, we are moving swiftly to bring relief to the affected families through our emergency programme. The department will be providing Temporal Residential Units (TRUs) to 227 affected families. It is incumbent upon us as the people’s government to respond with agility when our people are confronted with disasters of this nature.”
The municipality is planning to relocate the affected households to New Rathwick Land earmarked for a Human Settlements project of construction of 3000 housing units. The Housing Development Agency (HDA) is an implementing agent for both the Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP) and Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG) and will work on upgrade where the families will be relocated, New Rathwick.
The department will continue to assess the impact of the disaster in the area and assess areas of emergency intervention(s) as the need may increase.
Honourable MEC Siphokazi Lusithi will lead the delegation of department to deliver the TRUs to the affected families on Friday, 10 February 2023 at 10h00 at the Chris Hani District Municipality Office.
Issued by the Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements.
Inquiries:
Mr Siyabonga Mdodi: Spokesperson to the MEC
Mobile: 083 358 8070 | Email: SiyabongaMd@ecdhs.gov.za