By Anita Dangazele
Residents of Kariega in the Eastern Cape whose homes were affected by floods say they feel ignored because the authorities’ attention has been on the flood-hit residents of informal settlements.
Almost two months after devastating floods hit parts of Nelson Mandela Bay, more than 1,200 people in Lower Central, Kariega, have been left to fend for themselves without government help to fix their homes.
With their houses uninsured and most of the homeowners in Lower Central either unemployed or elderly, some residents have had no option but to sleep in their flood-damaged homes.
Lower Central resident Mariam Gamieldien said President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit on 7 June was just for show.
“The president came here and did a walkabout mostly near the canal, and visited a few houses. We thought his presence here would bring solutions, but nothing has come.
“All we want is to get the same treatment as the residents in informal settlements because some of us here are struggling to make ends meet because we are old and unemployed,” Gamieldien said.
Ward 48 councillor Franay van de Linde said no authorities had come forward to help residents in formal housing.
“I received an email of a copy of the claim form from the speaker’s office on 3 June and thought this would help fast-track assistance to the people of Central,” Van de Linde said.
She said she submitted 1,213 claims for assistance, but since her submission, the city has yet to communicate how it would help residents.
Lower Central has damaged roads, low-hanging electricity cables and sewage overflowing from manholes.
DA MPL Retief Odendaal said it was very worrying that the residents of Lower Central still have not received any assistance.
“By virtue of an application for disaster funds made to the National Treasury, it means the city can readjust its [2024-25] budget to repair infrastructure, and once the disaster funds are allocated, then [it can] redirect funds [to] where money was taken from,” Odendaal said.
Pictured above: Mariam Gamieldien, a resident of Lower Central in Kariega.
Source: Supplied
