Kubayi Dispatches Emergency Team for Flooded Homes in Western Cape

Kubayi noted that about 100 displaced individuals have expressed reluctance to move to safer temporary housing due to concerns about their livestock.

Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has dispatched an emergency housing team to assist families displaced by flooding caused by the collapse of a dam in the Swartland Municipality, Western Cape. The minister stated that the ongoing assessment will guide necessary interventions for affected households.

Kubayi outlined four intervention categories provided by the department: restoration, relocation, rebuilding, and repairs. The team has been directed to prioritize emergency accommodation for vulnerable groups. "It's unfortunate that we have to address this new disaster while still managing the aftermath of a previous one," Kubayi remarked.

Affected families from Riverlands, who lost their homes in a recent disaster, are currently sheltered at the Riverlands Community Bakery Centre and Riverlands Church. Kubayi noted that about 100 displaced individuals have expressed reluctance to move to safer temporary housing due to concerns about their livestock.

The National Home Builders' Registration Council (NHBRC) is on-site to assess the structural integrity of damaged properties once the water levels recede. The department also praised the NGOs actively helping the victims.

On transparency, Kubayi emphasized the department's commitment to addressing allegations of fraud and corruption in the allocation of fully subsidized houses, known as Breaking New Ground (BNG) projects. "We are reconfiguring our human settlements delivery system and digitizing the beneficiary list to improve operations and ensure accountability," Kubayi said.

During a recent appearance on Power FM's breakfast show, Kubayi invited listeners to suggest ways to enhance sustainable human settlements. Issues raised included land invasions, conducting audits to verify BNG house allocations, and addressing blocked projects.

Kubayi also interviewed the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Thembi Simelane, on justice for women, and Deputy Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, on teenage pregnancy, as part of Women’s Month observances.